NPF Medical Cell in-charge Dr. Chumben Murry MLA in a communiqué has predicted that Nagaland was headed for a “grim COVID-19 situation” unless glaring missteps in containing coronavirus was not corrected.
Dr. Murry listed out some of the missteps which could lead to the grim scenario such as—erroneous judgement and actions” of state machineries; lack of adherence to SOPs by “high risk groups” especially returnees and general public and how some of the returnees were infected during quarantine period when protocols were ignored.
In particular, Dr. Murry said Peren and Mon districts “are in grave situation” even as the state authorities were trying to contain a similar spread to other districts.
NPF Medical Cell said so far, COVID-19 cases among returnees showed it has gone to Stage-II (local transmission from person to person and with travel history). However, he said unless people take care of health and hygiene, COVID-19 in Nagaland could go to Stage-III (when the disease is contracted from the community and the virus has spread so much that the source is untraceable).
Dr. Murry said the NPF was deeply concerned about the crisis since the party including its legislature and as part of district legislators’ teams on COVID-19 have been giving their opinions about their observations which also included constructive write-ups of the leader of the party legislature.
He said in spite of initial “grave erroneous judgment”, the frontline workers have sacrificed and done their job. Dr. Murry also said the role of the frontline workers was very important when the virus was at Stage-I (appearance of the disease through people with a travel history, with everyone contained, their sources traced, and no local spread from those affected).
Dr. Murry maintained that strategy for returnees was not well planned neither was the concept of quarantine properly communicated or perceived, as a result of which, the primary objective of containment failed.
As Nagaland was headed towards the “grim scenario”, Dr. Murry said the need of the hour was for the general public to become frontline workers, as a civic duty, to protect themselves and others.
In this regard, Dr. Murry listed eight points for those involved with COVID-19 including the general public as means to widen the anti-COVID strategy:
1. Those involved with COVID-19 should spread more awareness through IEC materials on mission mode to properly sensitize lower rank of frontline workers; 2. General public must impose further lockdown at least for the next 28 days with strict adherence to social distancing, wearing of masks and hand sanitisation;3.properly dispose of wrappings on commodities handled; wash hands and change clothes after returning from outside and before mingling with family members;
4. Elderly people to avoid going out unnecessarily and pre-school children not be allowed to go outside and presently not to mingle with other children;
5. Those with pre-existing ailments such as heart and lung diseases, diabetes, hypertension and chronic diseases should take extra precautions;
6. Avoid large gathering such as religious and devotional gatherings and community meetings for some time;
7. maintain house-fly free environment at home;
8. Shops and public utility establishments to comply with guidelines such as foot demarcation for social distancing, customers wear protective masks etc 9. Masks to be worn by covering nose while masks with ventilators should be avoided; 10. Follow the guidelines at all times.