Nagaland registers highest weekly COVID score since December 2020

April 25, 2021 43 Views No Comment

85 cases this week, positivity at 24% in Dimapur

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 25

COVID-19 appears to be returning with a vengeance in Nagaland as cases have increased consistently over the past 4 weeks. The state clocked 385 COVID-19 cases this week, the highest weekly score since December 2020.

The last time the weekly tally crossed the 300-mark was in between December 5-11, 2020, during which 329 cases were reported. It dropped to 198 the subsequent week after which the weekly score dipped consistently to hover below the 100-mark till March-end.

As per the latest weekly COVID roundup issued by the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the week’s tally included 179 returnees/travellers, 187 traced contacts, 18 armed forces personnel and 1 frontline worker.

Quite disturbingly, the resurgence has been epicentred in Dimapur with the district accounting for 3/4th or 294 of the total cases registered this week. Kohima accounted for 79, Mokokchung- 5, Tuensang-2, Phek- 3 and 1 each in Longleng and Peren.

The positivity for the week catapulted to 24 percent in Dimapur from 11 the previous week. It was 11 percent in Kohima, 2 percent in Mokokchung, Peren, Tuensang and Phek and 1 percent in Longleng. The state average was at 9 percent. In total, 2,700 samples were tested returning a positivity rate of 14 percent.

As per the IDSP, “The positivity rate has increased from 2.3 percent in March 2021 to 8.9 percent in April 2021 which is close to positivity rate in August 2020.” It added that the high weekly sample positivity in Dimapur and Kohima is alarming as it “signifies undetected cases in the population.”

Given the high sample positivity, it said that social gatherings and events remain high risk for super spreader events in the state. However, the roundup did not specify the testing rate (per thousand population).

It also pointed out the high positivity rate among returnees and travellers and an obvious lax in quarantine measures, adding, “Travellers should be equally responsible.”

While entry to the state via air is being monitored, entry via road and rail remain a serious area of concern as cases mount. On this, the IDSP said, “The numerous points of entry to the state and the porous border make it extremely difficult to monitor everyone at points of entry. The community and ward/ village councils should ensure quarantine of 10 days as in SOP if there is no negative RT PCR report.”

Contagion and youth
The IDSP noted an increased rate of infection among the youth. As per the data, 30 percent of the infections in 2020 were among the 20-30 years age group. This time, infection rate among this age group has increased to 40 percent.

There is also a marked increase in the infection rate among the 10-20 years age group, which has increased to 12 percent from 8 percent in 2020.

In contrast, infection among the 30-40 years age group has reduced from 34 percent in 2020 to 21 percent, presently, while slight increase in infection was noted in the 50-plus age group.

Fatality
As per the data, fatalities in the 30-40 years age group have reduced to 8 percent from 21 percent in 2020. However, fatalities in the older age groups have increased.

It said, “The CFR (Case Fatality Rate) among 45 years and above is high at 2.6% which is worrisome, and the median age of Covid deaths is 55 years (range: 24-90 years). This necessitates the need for urgent vaccination before the second wave peaks.”

As per the data, 38 percent of the fatalities recorded this year have been 50-60 year-olds as opposed to 13 percent last year.

The state’s mortality rate was tipped at 0.65 percent against the country’s 1.15 percent.

Vaccination
The IDSP informed that 1,79,349 doses have been administered across the state, as on April 23. The total was inclusive of 36,634 numbers of the second dose. A total of 51,487 doses have been administered in Dimapur, Kohima- 27,746, Mokokchung- 20,661, Mon- 17,711, Phek- 13,371, Wokha- 11,502, Tuensang- 10,847, Zunheboto- 9,725, Peren- 6,055, Longleng- 5,762 and Kiphire- 4,482.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-registers-highest-weekly-covid-score-since-december-2020