IMPHAL, Nov 14 - The Manipur Government has decided to launch the COVID-19 sero survey in four selected districts � two each in the hill and valley districts � from November 30, State Health officials said.
The State Health Department is aiming to collect 4,600 samples, including 1,380 each from the two valley districts, Imphal West and Kakching, and 920 each from the two hill districts, Churachandpur and Ukhrul. The samples will be collected by 12 teams comprising five members each.
The Central Health authority has given its consent to targeted testing in the Assembly constituencies where bypolls were held on November 7. These five Assembly constituencies are Lilong, Wangoi, Wangjing-Tentha, Saitu and Singhat.
Officials have been working to test at least 10 per cent of the local populace in areas where more than 200 people gathered during the election meetings and where such meetings were held twice, sources said.
The Government has also been working to test polling agents and ASHA workers who were assigned to take COVID care measures at the polling stations, the sources added.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that surveillance teams would be sent to those Assembly constituencies where by-elections were conducted recently, to identify persons showing symptoms of COVID-19.
According to a senior official of the Health Directorate, the department is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the best possible manner. So far, 521 health care workers have been hit by COVID-19.
On the other hand, the State Government is arranging for more beds at 35 COVID care centres and at present, more than 750 out of a total of 2,264 beds are vacant.
