Covid care centre to come up soon at Manipur's Jiribam

IMPHAL: In view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases among police personnel at Jiribam district, the state government has taken up rapid measures to open a Covid care centre and a rapid testing unit there.
A state health team comprising senior and experienced doctors from Imphal flew to Jiribam in a helicopter along with testing kits on Tuesday for the opening of the centre at Jiribam district hospital.
The number of coronavirus cases among police and Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel serving at Jiribam has now climbed up from 28 to 36. Some of them were assigned at Jiribam railway station to help returnees from other states.
Manipur health and family welfare director K Rajo had clarified that the Jiribam incident is not a case of community spread but local transmission.
One of the health team members who landed in Jiribam said that the source of Covid-19 cluster transmission among the policemen would be traced out and strict measures would be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
Necessary arrangements have been made to open a Covid care centre at Jiribam district hospital for treating asymptomatic patients, she said, adding that equipment and manpower for the centre were also on the way. Taking into account the difficulties in bringing Covid-19 patients from Jiribam to Imphal along NH-37, the state authorities have decided to set up the Covid care facility and a rapid testing unit there, she added.
Residents of Jiribam, however, have objected to the plan to open the centre at Jiribam district hospital and urged the government to set up the unit at some other place.