The Union Health Ministry has expressed concern over the death ratio due to Covid-19 in Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland which is higher than the national mortality rate.
According to the Health Ministry, the Covid-19 death ratio in Meghalaya is 1.74 per cent while that of Manipur is 1.57 per cent and Nagaland 2.17 per cent.
The Health Ministry said that the mortality rate in these three states is higher than the national mortality rate of 1.35 per cent.
It also said that Mizoram with 0.36 per cent fatality ratio has the lowest count in mortality due to Covid-19 but its active ratio of 3.36 per cent is the highest in the country.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has also asked Meghalaya and four other north-eastern states to increase testing and take immediate steps to control the spread of Covid-19.
The direction was issued by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in letters to the Health Secretaries of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur and Mizoram today.
Bhushan also said that it is important to increase the testing of samples in regards to Covid-19 considering the recent increase in travelling, due to various events such as marriages, festive celebrations, vacations having either recently concluded or underway.
The Health Ministry said that the decrease in the Covid testing would undermine the actual infection spread within the community.
“A decrease in testing would undermine the actual infection spread within the community. Also, with the onset of winter and increased pollution in some states, prevalence of ILI/SARI and respiratory distress symptoms should be closely monitored, with tests conducted regularly for timely monitoring and clustering of cases for early hotspot identifications,” he said in the letter.
Bhushan also said that with a majority of countries seeing multiple surges in Covid cases in recent times and a few developed countries facing even fourth and fifth waves despite high levels of Covid vaccination, there is a need for continued vigil given the unpredictable and contagious nature of the disease.
“Hence, all efforts must be implemented to preserve the gains made so far and to prevent deterioration of Covid-19 scenario across the country,” he said.
