In view of the reports published by the Imphal Free Press about travellers flouting COVID rules and the rise in the use of fake RT-PCR negative certificates in Manipur, state Health Services Director Dr K Rajo on Tuesday stated that a direction has been given to all district magistrates to take action against such.
Dr Rajo appealed to the people who are taking advantage of fake certificates and to the providers to stop such illegal activities.
Read: Travellers flout Covid rules; use of fake RT-PCR negative certificates on the rise in Manipur
Addressing the press at the Directorate of Health Services office located at Lamphelpat on Tuesday, Dr Rajo said that after hearing the news about fake certificates published in the Imphal Free Press, he gave the directions of retest and screening and to study the history of travellers and check any certificate thoroughly.
Dr Rajo said that the COVID third wave started from the middle of January and is increasing every day with death cases reaching five per day. As of now, starting from the first COVID wave, 15, 27,691 have been tested with 1, 33, 256 people testing positive, while 1, 27, 226 infected persons have recovered; and 2,046 have succumbed to the infection so far.
In January 1971, tests were conducted with 346 people testing positive, while 333 infected persons have recovered and five died of the virus. According to a study, daily cases are around 300-400, with around 2,000 test results recieved per day and positivity per day is around 15-20 per cent in the last few days.
Samples sent for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is 3,447 while WGS 3031 have been received; samples of international travellers sent for WGS is five.
The health director said there are a total of 127 Omicron cases in the state as on February 1. Of the total cases, Imphal West has highest Omicron cases of 60, Imphal East 37, Senapati six, Chandel eight, Thoubal eight, Ukhrul three, Churachandpur one, Bishnupur one.
"Omicron transmission is progressing in the state, and mild fever is widely reported in the state. It may not be Omicron or COVID, but one should get tested... There may be several Omicron patients because the mutation level is very high and mutating is not stopping. Even if it is not dangerous, one should get tested," the health director said.
Urging all to get full vaccination, as death cases are high among non-vaccinated people, he said those COVID symptoms should not remain silent and stop testing in the back door without informing health services.
Dr Rajo said that the general bed occupancy rate is still below 30 per cent and ICU bed occupancy rate is 20 per cent. So, there is a need for apprehension of available beds, he said.
In view of the upcoming general election for Manipur Legislative Assembly, the general public is requested to adhere to COVID appropriate behavior, Rajo said and urged the people to avoid unnecessary crowding and appealed them to wear masks whenever in a crowd. He also urged people to adhere to hand hygiene and physical distancing.
The health department is fully prepared for any eventuality while the Hospital infrastructure in the state is adequate and can meet any surge of admission, Dr Rajo said. However, it depends on the general public to adhere to COVID appropriate behavior to avoid getting infected with COVID-19, he added and urged all to follow guidelines issued from time to time by the health department and state home department.
