People should not neglect following the guidelines of COVID-19 with the coming of festive seasons and Manipur assembly election as the pandemic is yet to end, said Health director K Rajo in a press conference held at the board room of State Directorate of Health Services, Lamphel, Imphal West on Thursday.

The health director informed that no new case of COVID-19 delta variant (AY.4.2) has been detected in the state. Though the COVID-19 situation in the state is getting better, it is yet to be completely under control, Dr Rajo added.

With the coming of festive seasons and change in weather, people should not avoid following the guidelines of COVID behaviour protocol. The number of positive cases in the state has been decreasing and in the last few months, the mortality count has become zero seven times. Meanwhile, the state health department is well prepared to fight the COVID-19 if a new variant case is found in the state, he added.

He said that health experts are presuming that in the third wave of COVID-19, the virus may attack the children mostly. Concerning the situation, COVID vaccine for children below 18 years is under the stage of processing and will be produced soon.

Rajo further said with full vaccination, a person can be protected up to 97-98 per cent against severe impact.