State’s weekly case count at 4, positivity rate at 9 percent
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 27
Even as COVID-19 made resurgence in the country and globally, Nagaland continued to maintain a low case count.
After registering the lowest weekly tally of 4 cases the previous week, since the first officially confirmed cases were reported on May 25, 2020, the state reported only 4 cases this week (March 20-26) as well.
The state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme’s (IDSP) weekly COVID roundup informed that these were detected from a total of 1047 samples returning a positivity rate of 0.3 percent for the week. 3 of the cases were traced contacts and 1 from the armed forces.
If the IDSP case detection data has been any indication, Nagaland’s overall positivity rate is making a gradual downward curve. The rate fell to 9 percent from 9.1 percent the previous week. District-wise, Dimapur still returned the highest positivity eventhough it dropped to 11.8 percent this week from 11.9 percent previously. Kohima’s positivity remained unchanged at 10 percent.
With a combined case total of 10,386 (as on March 26), Dimapur and Kohima have been the two districts, which have been consistently reporting cases since May 2020. These two districts also have the highest sample test rate. Kohima was testing on average 140 samples per thousand, while Dimapur was testing 141 per thousand population. The overall testing rate for the entire state was 67 per thousand.
There were no new cases of death.
India and globally
Globally, the IDSP said that cases continued to increase for the fourth consecutive week as confirmed cases reach 125 million with more than 2.7 million deaths. The highest number of cases has been reported from Brazil, USA, India, France and Italy.
India reported more than 3.3 lakh cases in the past week with Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh are reporting the maximum cases.
SOP for inbound travelers
With the emerging COVID-19 situation in the country and the increase in the number of variants, the IDSP appealed the citizens to observe personal preventive measures “to avoid a second wave” and importation of cases.
It stated, “All travellers and returnees should adhere to the standing state SOP for returnees and travelers as on 25th Nov 2020.”
As per the November 25, 2020 SOP, “Any traveler with a Negative RT PCR test done not earlier than 72 hours before arrival will be exempted from quarantine. All travelers coming to Nagaland without a negative test report must observe 10 days quarantine (Home or paid), unless exempted under SOP. Travelers who wish to shorten quarantine period should opt for testing and if negative can be released from quarantine. All symptomatic travelers will be tested as per protocol.”
Vaccination
81,269 doses of Covishield vaccines have administered in Nagaland. The total was inclusive of 21,860 second dose. It added that 14,064 doses were administered in the past week.
The IDSP citing a study carried out in the US and published in the British Medical Journal, reiterated that the Astrazeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India, is 100% e¬ffective in preventing severe disease and admission to hospitals. “It also found no increased risk of blood clots by the usage of the same vaccine.”
