Manipur's Health Principal secretary Vumlunmang Vualnuam on Friday said thermal screening at Mao and Jiribam will be discontinued and more emphasis will be given on deploying health manpower in COVID hospitals and non-COVID health care facilities instead.
The screening started in March 2020 at the two entry points, Jiribam and Mao, situated along the two National Highways to prevent COVID-19.
The principal secretary was speaking to the media as a part of weekly COVID update at directorate of health. He said that the state government has started preparatory work for administering COVID-19 vaccines as advised by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Uploading names of healthcare workers of 138 government and 108 private health facilities in COWIN portal of Government of India is in full swing, said the principal secretary pointing out that COVID positivity rate is slowly declining in December after wearing of masks is increasing in the State as a whole.
Vumlunmang further said that districts such as Ukhrul that have adopted wearing of face masks widely have seen lower COVID-19 positivity rate. Besides, the ongoing serosurveillance is also confirming that there is low prevalence rate, he said. The principal secretary also appealed to wear face masks in crowded places with the onset of winter.
He also said that there are 126 cold chain points in the State and they are being continuously monitored at state level and district level by eVIN mobile App.
With State Mission director, National Health Mission as team leader, home isolation team is strengthened. Moreover, phone follow-up monitoring, distribution of medicines and pulse oximeters have been streamlined in addition to introduction of 104 Mental Helpline for mental health assistance to home isolation patients, Vumlunmang stated.
Highlighting the roles of the state police, IGP Manipur Priyokumar Singh said that a total amount of Rs 3,36,340 have been collected from COVID guideline violators for the present week and a total of Rs 1, 37, 62,510 has been collected till date.
He also said that COVID testing facilities have already begun at 2nd Manipur Rifles since October 17.
Heath director Dr RK Rajo said that hospitals in the State have gradually begun treatment of both COVID and non-COVID patients. The COVID positive cases has been decreasing since December 4 and the COVID fatality rate is also gradually decreasing, he added.
Rajo stated that Manipur has enough stock of pulse oximeter, immune booster and other essential protective gears.
Responding to media queries, State Immunisation Officer Dr Th. Nandakishwor Singh said that COVID-19 vaccines will be first given to healthcare workers so that they can undertake mass vaccination to the public.
Names of 14,000 healthcare workers have been uploaded in the COWIN portal of Government of India, he added.
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