The Manipur health department is working on the process of bearing the expenses for the funeral of COVID-19 victims and to refund the amount spent by the family members, director of Health department, Dr K Rajo said on Friday.
Dr Rajo was replying to a query made by the Imphal Free Press regarding the failure of the state government to bear the expenses for the funerals of deceased who died of COVID-19, during the second weekly press briefing on COVID-19 at the Health directorate, Imphal Friday.
According to the SOP guidelines, the expenses for the funeral are to be borne by the deputy commissioners from the National Disaster Relief Fund. However, there are reports that the expenses of the COVID-19 victims’ funerals were borne by the deceased family, Rajo said.
The director said that as recommended by the Central government, the state government will be increasing the number of ICU in the Covid Care Centre soon. He said that the total number of ICU in RIMS and JNIMS Covid Care Centres is 70 and 40 respectively.
Rajo also said that of the 4,000 pulse oximeters bought by the state government, 3,000 pulse oximeters have been distributed to Covid-19 testing teams, chief health officers and ASHA workers of the different districts of the state to monitor the COVID-19 home isolation patients.
Seamless tele-counselling and first-line supportive medicine were also given to home isolation patients, he added.
So far, 3,93,807 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the state. Of them, 22,548 were tested positive, 19,431 recovered and 231 died as of Thursday’s COVID update, informed Rajo.
On the availability of testing kits and medical equipment in the state, he said that there is enough stock for now.
The streamline testing for COVID-19 for Lilong constituency started on Friday and it will continue till November 24. For Wangjing Tentha constituency, it will start on Saturday and will continue till November 25, the director added.
Appealing to the public to follow the SOP, the director said as of now, it is one of the most effective tools to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
District surveillance officer of Imphal West, Dr Mutum Vivekson informed that COVID-19 streamline testing started in Wangoi constituency on Wednesday. On the first day, a total of 533 were tested out of which 95 were COVID-19 positive. On Thursday, a total of 315 were tested and out of which, 38 were tested positive, he added.
According to the district surveillance officer, many people did not come for testing as they were busy harvesting and some were afraid to carry out testing due to fear of staying in COVID Care Centre if found positive.
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