Director of Health Services Manipur Dr K Rajo on Wednesday warned people of Manipur of certain consequences of COVID-19 if Covid appropriate behaviour is not maintained during festival, political and social gatherings.
Dr Rajo was speaking to the media during a press briefing on 'COVID-19 pandemic' at RD Wing, Imphal West. As of now getting fully vaccinated and maintaining the SOP laid down by the government is the best preventive measures from Covid-19, he said.
The director informed that the total fatalities of COVID in November is 56, of which 50 are unvaccinated, one was fully vaccinated and the remaining five were administered the first vaccine dose.
Regarding the new variant of COVID virus (Omicron, which have high mutation level) recently detected in 14 foreign countries, he said that the state government has laid certain protocols for international arrival from midnight as a preventive measure.
Dr Rajo said, "We don't have much knowledge about Omicron. We cannot confirm that the outcome of the virus will be severe or not."
The public need not get panic or apprehend as the state government has been taking all preventive measures and is ready to handle it, he added.
He also informed that till yesterday, eight travellers from four risky state (Israel, New Zealand, Bangladesh and USA) had entered the state.
Fortunately all of them tested negative for coronavirus. They are in home quarantine, he added.
Rajo also pointed out that the infrastructure of the healthcare facilities in the state has been upgraded at the maximum possible extend, with the initiative of both the state and central government.
Elaborating on the guidelines of the international arrival, state surveillance officer Dr Somorjit said that the traveller should submit the history of the last 14 days travel details, before the schedule travel.
The traveller should produce Covid negative testing report of RTPCR conducted within 72 hours prior to taking the journey, he said, adding they will be again tested on arrival at the airport.
The person will be allowed to exit the airport after testing negative and they will be tested again after eight days, he added. He further informed that 14-day home quarantine is compulsory for all the travellers even though they are tested negative.
By chance if a traveller is tested positive, the person will be kept in a special isolation unit and sample will be sent for genome sequencing, the surveillance officer said.
State immunisation officer Dr Manihar appealed to all the eligible public to get fully vaccinated as it its the best preventive measure as of now. He also announced that the Health department is ready to give the service of doorstep vaccination if required.
Menawhile, Rajo also informed that three healthcare workers who succumbed to Covid during their line of duty were given a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to their family members by the state government.
The government will further take up all possible measures for the well being of healthcare workers, he added.
