Nagaland records first COVID-19 case; person from Dimapur tests positive at GMCH

Nagaland on Monday recorded its first COVID-19 case after a man from Dimapur, who was referred to Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) from a private hospital tested positive.

State Health and family Welfare Secretary Kezonyu Yhomih informed Northeast Live that he is in touch with the superintendent of GMCH and has learnt that the condition of the patient condition is stable.

Yhomih informed that the 29-year-old patient had initially not disclosed his travel history to Zion hospital in Dimapur when he went for treatment and it was only on the 2nd visit when his condition was critical that he revealed his travel history.

Nagaland Health and family Welfare Secretary also informed that the department is conducting contact tracing on a war footing and is identifying people who had travelled with him in the same flight and also those who have come in direct or indirect contact with him.

Yhome said some of the passengers who were in the same flight have called authorities themselves and are being put into quarantine while necessary tests are being done.

He said that authorities are also tracing all people he may have come in contact with since the 18th of March when he reached Dimapur.

Yhomih also informed that the patient is said to have visited some private clinics in Dimapur before going to Zion hospital and the department is also tracing those clinics and medical staff.

Yhome admitted that there have been some lapses as the department also got the news of the coronavirus positive case through social media.