The East Khasi Hills District Covid-19 Task Force has decided to intensify drives and monitor health guidelines violators and to set up three random testing sites in commercial areas within the city.
A review meeting on status of the virus, testing and deaths was held yesterday wherein it was decided that since a few localities reported a large number of cases (more than 20), active surveillance will continue in such areas and containment will be declared to stop the transmission chain of the virus.
As per the records of the District Surveillance Officer there have been seven deaths reported in the span of a week ending December 13, making the total case fatality rate in the district at 1.3 per cent. While the fatality rate among the elderly is high at 10 per cent, 82 per cent of the total deaths are persons with co-morbidities.
The DM&HO informed that many deaths are seen to occur due to late admission at the hospital and hence it is important that symptoms are not ignored, especially amongst the elderly and co-morbid population, and they should report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Further, the District Surveillance Officer reported that there have been many cases in which positive persons do not reveal their contacts, and also cases in which high risk contacts refuse to undergo testing, thereby not giving a complete picture to the health authorities of the extent of transmission which can cause untested positive carriers to infect others resulting in a spike in infections.
The Deputy Commissioner further reiterated that action will be taken against anyone refusing to comply with the instructions of the health authorities and appealed that there should not be stigma associated with positive cases or high risk persons, since this prevents the persons from extending their full cooperation due to fear of being stigmatized.
