The new strain of COVID-19 is different from the first wave as it is “mostly and quickly” spread among the young and middle age groups and is more infectious, said Manipur Health Services director Dr K Rajo.
Briefing the media on Monday in Imphal, Dr Rajo said that the Health department has started preparatory work to combat the second wave such as identifying Covid care centres and number of ICUs in different locations of the state.
A district-level committee has been formed for contact tracing, he said, adding that at least 30 individuals who are in contact with a positive person have to be traced for further preventive measures, according to the advisory given by the Central government.
The Manipur government has also imposed certain restrictions to contain the spread of the second wave of COVID-19 in the state in view of the surge in COVID-19 positive cases in the last two weeks.
The state government has made it mandatory for people entering the state to produce COVID-19 negative reports, imposed night curfew and strict SOP, banned all public and social gathering except for unavoidable religious rituals, the director added.
According to Dr Rajo, the state may face shortage of COVID-19 vaccine anytime due to the high demand of the vaccine throughout the country. However, director of National Health Mission, Manipur, Dr N Shyamjai stated that small states like Manipur will not face vaccine shortage.
Shyamjai mentioned that the state has received 3,64,000 doses of the vaccine so far and the present stock of the vaccine is around 2,00,000 doses.
So far, around 1,07,000 individuals have been vaccinated, he said, adding that around 60,000 individuals have received the second dose of the vaccine.
The vaccination programme has been taken up at RIMS, JNIMS and at all district hospitals, PHCs, CHCs and in nine private hospitals for health care workers, frontline workers and people above 45 years age group, said Shyamjai.
On behalf of the Health and Family Welfare departments, he appealed to all the individuals above 45 years to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and all the public to follow the COVID appropriate behaviour as they are the only ways to prevent COVID-19 infection.
With the increase of 54 new COVID-19 positive cases and the expiry of one COVID patient in the state as per the latest update on Monday, the total number of active positive cases in the state surged to 296 and the cumulative number of deaths moved to 377.
Altogether 141 individuals are in home isolation. The concerned officials are strictly monitoring those who are in home isolation to prevent from spreading further, said Shyamjai.
Meanwhile, chief secretary Rajesh Kumar and Education director Laishram Nandakumar Singh tested positive for the disease, the health department said on Monday.
The chief secretary is now in stable condition and is given treatment at his official residence at Imphal by doctors of JNIMS, he said. The chief secretary is currently given high flow nasal oxygen therapy and required antiviral injections, Shyamjai added.
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