A total of 126 individuals who took part in a fasting programme at Koide Lower Baptist Church in Senapati district, Manipur were tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, sources said.
Amid the surge in positive cases and the ban imposed on social gatherings by the state government, a total of 254 individuals (86 from outside Senapati district, including from Kohima) attended the fasting programme organised at the church from May 11 to May 21, the sources said.
According to the sources, before the conclusion of the programme, six individuals reportedly became ill and suffered from high fever and they were found to be COVID-19 positive during treatment.
As a part of contact tracing, 251 individuals underwent Covid testing during which the 126 individuals were tested positive for COVID-19. However, three of them who attended the fasting programme allegedly refuse to get tested, the sources added.
It is said that the actual fasting programme was already held before the second wave of the pandemic arrived. However, as the church members residing outside could not attend in good numbers, the church reorganised the fasting programme from May 11 to 21 and invited its members residing outside the village.
Following the outbreak of the virus among the church members, the district administration of Senapati has imposed a curfew in the entire Koide Area- Koide Mathak, Koide Makha, Koide Biisho and Koide Zho with immediate effect till June 5 or until further orders as a preventive measure in the interest of public health and well being.
The curfew order also directed that the chief medical officer of Senapati is to depute one ambulance along with dedicated staff at PHC, Oinam.
