Weekly media briefing now to be held Local bodies to take onus of enforcing new SOP

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 6: Informing that the State Government has already drawn up and enforced a new SOP to give a new impetus to the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Principal Secretary (Health) V Vumlunmang said that the task of enforcing the new SOP would be entrusted to local COVID committees, Assembly segment level COVID committees and district level committees.
Apart from enforcing the new SOP, extensive awareness campaigns would be organised on the COVID-19 pandemic and its protective measures, he said.
Launching a weekly media briefing programme which would be organised by Health Department at the Health Directorate, Lamphelpat today, V Vumlunmang told media persons that local COVID committees would take pro-active roles at locality level in ensuring people wear face masks, maintain physical distance and wash hands frequently.
Together with district police and district administration, these committees would take the twin responsibility of creating awareness about the pandemic and enforcement of the new SOP, said the Principal Secretary (Health).
He said that there are 399 COVID beds in the State including 245 at RIMS and JNIMS, 80 at district hospitals, 50 at Shija Hospital and 24 at Raj Medicity.
In addition, there are 2264 beds at 35 different COVID Care Centres.
Out of 3137 COVID-19 positive people who were advised home isolation, 2345 have recovered. The department has started providing medicines to people under home isolation and pulse oxymeters have been purchased, he said.
Informing that treatment of COVID-19 has now been covered by both CMHT and PMJAY, Vumlunmang said that all frontline workers and volunteers are covered by a life insurance scheme of Rs 50 lakh sponsored by the Government of India.
There is no shortage of testing kits, both RT-PCR and RAT, he said.
To a query, Health Director Dr K Rajo said that so far 1000 pulse oxymeters have been purchased. 1500 more would arrive today followed by another 1500 in the next couple of days.
These pulse oxymeters would be made available to people under home isolation through ASHA workers and other volunteers, Dr Rajo said.
State Surveillance Officer Dr N Somorjit informed that the Health Department in collaboration with RIMS has taken up necessary measures to carry out serosurveillance in two valley districts and two hill districts.
Apart from arranging 5600 RAT kits (at the rate of 1400 for each district), due communication is being made with the Ministry of Health through video conferencing, Dr Somorjit  said.
Nodal officers working in different sectors were also present at the media briefing.