Aizawl, Oct 6: Amid undeterred surge in COVID-19 infection in the hilly state of Mizoram, a four-member central team led by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) consultant-epidemiologist Dr Vinita Gupta arrived in the state capital Aizawl on Tuesday to assess the situation.
Shortly after the team’s arrival in the state capital, several rounds of meeting have been held with officials of State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of Aizawl East and Aizawl West — the two most affected districts – to discuss ways to combat the situation.
The team will hold another virtual meeting with Chief Medical Officers of various districts on Wednesday to review the measures being taken to control the spread of the virus across the state, the statement said.
The members of the central team will also visit COVID-19 care facilities in Aizawl West during the day.
Mizoram continues to report high numbers
Mizoram continues to register a spike in coronavirus cases with 1,681 new infections reported on Tuesday, which pushed the state’s tally to 99,856, a health department official said.
The death count has also risen to 331 as five more people succumbed to the infection, he said.
The single-day positivity rate stood at 18 percent as fresh cases were detected from 9,331 sample tests. Nationally, the positivity rate is below 3 per cent.
Recently, the more potent variant of COVID-19, Delta Plus, that is found to have infected children more, was also found in Mizoram. At least 322 children are among the newly infected people, an official said.
State-level expert team seeks revision of SOPs
Meanwhile, a state-level expert team on COVID-19 management, which was formed in September, underlined that more attention has to be paid to symptomatic patients, high-risk groups such as pregnant women and the elderly with co-morbid conditions.
The team convener, Dr F Lallianhlira, who is also principal director of state health department, told a press meet on Tuesday that a report has been submitted to the state government, seeking revision of standard operating procedure (SOP) for COVID-19 test and home isolation, among other suggestions.
The expert team has also recommended strengthening of COVID-19 care facilities in the state and establishment of a dedicated wing in all district hospitals.
Mizoram currently has just one COVID-19 hospital, the Zoram Medical College (ZMC), with 341 beds including 34 in ICU, and around 18 dedicated health centres (DCHCs).
A ten-day campaign to sensitise people about the importance of using face mask and sanitiser is likely to be organised from October 11, Lallianhlira added.
