Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 18
Out of 14,549 COVID-19 cases this year in Nagaland till July 16, a total of 2,090 were people with ‘students’ as occupation, according to official data provided by the State health authority. It amounted to 14.36% of the total cases in 2021.
The number is much higher than in 2020, when 914 people or 7.66% in the ‘students’ category tested positive for COVID-19 out of a total 11,929 cases. Percentage-wise, it signifies doubling of the cases among the category.
Among the ‘students’ category, the highest numbers of cases (339 out of 914) were reported from 18-24 years age group in 2020; while in 2021, the maximum cases (860 out of 2090) were among the 11-17 years age group, informed the July 17 Issue of the ‘Weekly COVID-19 Bulletin’ from Department Of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland
Taken together, in the ‘students’ category, 71% of cases in 2020 were in the 11-24 years age group while in 2021, the cohort constituted 78% of the total cases in 2021 among the aforesaid category.
Another age group showing high positive cases in the ‘students’ category was the 4-10 years age group with 223 cases in 2020 and 416 in 2021.
Accordingly, the three age groups as a whole (4-24 years) constituted 96% of the cases in the ‘students’ category in 2020.
The percentage further increased to 98% in 2021, indicating the need for strictly following COVID-19 appropriate behavour in schools and colleges as the State Government plans to reopen them from July 26.
While the fatality rate among the category is not given in the July 17 bulletin, the ‘Distribution of Deaths by Age Group’ given in the last week issue (July 10) informed that deaths among the category were low.
Out of 72 deaths in 2020, only 3 deaths (3%) were in the 0-29 years, it highlighted.
Again, in 2021, 12 deaths in the 0-29 years age group out of 421 (3%) deaths reported in the State till July 9. It must be noted here that as per the July 10 Bulletin, the Nagaland has not reported any death in 0-14 years age group.
However, it drives home the point that while young people seem to less susceptible to the infection, they could act as an active carriers, putting other high risk groups in danger.
The categorisation of the ‘students’ in the latest weekly bulletin by the State Health Department seemed to be given in anticipation of the reopening of educational institutions by the State Government.
As a measure to ensure safe return to classrooms during the pandemic, the Department suggested stringent adherence to universal masking for staff and students matched by hand hygiene, physical distancing, and adequate ventilation.
Vaccination of teachers, non-teaching staff and eligible students should be prioritized, it recommended.
The Department further advocated for ‘high level of testing and contact tracing within schools’ as well as redesigning of classroom routines to limit student interaction inside and outside the rooms.
Level of community transmission in a district should be the key parameter to guide reopening, it added.
Meanwhile, as per the revised guidelines for ‘Unlock 3’ issued by the Nagaland Chief Secretary’s office on July 17, the state government has decided allow colleges and in-house skill development institutes or establishments to reopen from July 26 on condition that all the staffers are vaccinated and all SOPs are adhered to.
It also allowed reopening of higher secondary schools (classes XI and XII) from August 2 with similar conditions.
Related standard operating procedures (SOPs) including maximum allowed percentage of attendance of students in schools and colleges will be issued by the state Home Department after consultation with the concerned department, the order stated.
TSUD on re-opening of educational
institutions and fee deductions
Dimapur, July 18 (MExN): Following the state government’s decision to allow reopening of schools for in-person classes, the Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) on Sunday raised concerns that the move could pose a threat to the wellbeing of the society.
In a press release on Sunday, the union stated it was practically impossible to maintain COVID appropriate behaviours when in a classroom. “With health scientists predicting a more severe 3rd COVID wave and the virus mutating to an even deadlier variation, the resumption of classes will have to be followed up with all the restrictions lifted for vehicular movement and other activities which might open up floodgates of the virus which will be disastrous,” it added.
As both the teachers and students has now been familarised with online classes, despite many difficulties, the union is of the view that online classes are the best option for now in the interest of everyone, it said.
Further, the TSUD placed on record, its appreciation to all the institutions for adapting to the COVID-19 situation and continuing to provide education to the student community.
“The yeoman efforts of the teachers’ community in adjusting with the environment created by the pandemic are another example of their sincere dedication and desire to motivate and provide education to all the students,” it said.
On the matter of fee waivers and concessions, the TSUD appealed to the educational institutions to “as humanly as possible,” reconsider reduction of fees raised on facilities that are not utilized during the pandemic period in order to alleviate the burden on parents.
