COVID-19 – A 'blessing in disguise' for Nagaland's health sector

Kohima: With COVID-19 pandemic hitting all over the world, leaving many infected, it was in fact a blessing in disguise for the northeastern state, Nagaland. The coming in of such a pandemic has led to the improvement in the health sector of Nagaland.

During this pandemic, the state got three Bio-Safety Level (BSL) Laboratories. The first one was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Nagaland in the month of May 2020, at Naga Hospital in Kohima. The other two laboratories are inaugurated in Dimapur and Tuensang district.

At present, Nagaland has 1,986 bed in the COVID-19 care units. The number of ventilators in the state has increased to 68. Ambulances in the government hospital have also increased to 110 in number. Around 330 new posts were created for medical personnel in these months. Till December 31, the state has reported 11,927 novel coronavirus cases. The first case in Nagaland was detected on May 25. The first three cases were the returnees from Chennai. As many as 30,000 stranded people from the state were brought back to Nagaland during the lockdown.

The government of Nagaland has directed the people who have entered Nagaland after December 20 to report to the District Task Forces (DTF) for COVID-19 testing. The information was stated in a press communique from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare. This is done in view of the new variant strain of the coronavirus, which has emerged in the United Kingdom. The press communique, which is issued by the Nagaland Principal Director, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare stated, "All persons who have come to Nagaland, either Indian or Foreign Nationals after the 20th December are to report to the Respective District Task Force (DTF) on Covid-19 for compulsory testing."

The new mutant strain is being called the VUI-202012/01. This is the very first 'variant under investigation' in the UK. It has emerged in the UK in December 2020.

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