40,000 RAT kits have arrived : CM

Imphal, Oct 7 (DIPR)
Urging the people of the State not to worry about shortage of COVID-19 testing kits, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has informed that 40,000 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits have arrived at Imphal today.
Maintaining that the people of Manipur have collectively faced the COVID-19 pandemic diligently, he also said that the Government is thankful to healthcare workers, volunteers, community organizations, local leaders, police, etc for their dedicated efforts.
Stating that the State Government has been complying with the guidelines and SOPs laid down by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Home Affairs and ICMR, N Biren said that the people of the State should understand that the Government of India also modifies guidelines from time to time.
With the beginning of the Unlock process as initiated by the Government of India, he said, people are getting back to normal activities. As such, it is likely that the number of COVID-19 cases may also rise, the Chief Minister cautioned.
He further stated that the State Government’s efforts in the past some months have resulted to low positivity rate, satisfactory recovery rate and low fatality rate in Manipur. So, this is a good starting point as the State transitions into the Unlock phase and resume normal livelihood and development activities, he added.
Biren informed that the collective efforts of the people and the Government have resulted in low COVID-19 positivity rate of 4.77% and this is far below the National average.
The Government is saddened by the fatalities, but it is also a fact that the State’s fatality rate of 0.64% is lower than the National average. Manipur’s testing achievement of 90,156 tests per million population is also higher than the National average, he said. The State Government has spent over Rs 60 crore in tackling COVID-19 till now. Major expenses are made on COVID testing, setting up and operating quarantine centres, COVID Care Centres, handling of returnees, etc.
In spite of resource constraints, the State Government still stands committed to spare no effort in tackling the pandemic, the Chief Minister said.
Biren further maintained that doctors and experts have tracked and monitored the daily COVID-19 data and analysed trends and projections regularly. New information about the virus and revised protocols of ICMR, MoHFW, MHA are WHO are regularly taken into account, he added.
Based on the growing knowledge about the virus, the Chief Minister said, home isolation of positive people is now an accepted protocol of MoHFW and adopted actively by many States and countries around the world. In Manipur also, over 600 positive people have already opted for home isolation successfully, he informed.
Though the Government would continue to expand COVID Care Centres as per requirements, wider adoption of safe and convenient home isolation is also encouraged, he said. N Biren said that Government and private hospitals have been advised to attend to symptomatic COVID and non-COVID patients as per protocol and ensure there is no denial of service. 24x7 Hospitalization Helpline number (1800-103-2015) remains functional, he said.
He also urged the public to adopt the three proven COVID prevention actions, viz. wearing face mask in crowded places, frequent hand washing and maintaining physical distance.