Covid positivity rate declining due to lockdown: Khaling

GANGTOK,: SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling on Tuesday shared that there has been some decline in Covid positivity rates as Sikkim enters the third phase of lockdown from June 1.
In a video statement issued to media on Tuesday, the SKM spokesperson mentioned that the Covid positivity rate during the partial lockdown from May 6 to 16 was 31.7%. A total of 7,990 samples had been tested during this period of 10 days.
During the State lockdown first phase from May 17 to 24, the positivity rate was 32.09% from the 5228 samples tested, said Khaling, also the Chief Minister’s political secretary.
“And during the second lockdown phase from May 24 to May 31, a total of 9292 samples were tested wherein the positivity rate has declined to 23.38%. In this manner, the effect of lockdown is being reflected and meeting the objectives for declaring the lockdown,” said Khaling.
The SKM spokesperson added that available data shows that the Covid cases in urban areas are coming down but ascending in rural Sikkim. Our studies suggest that Covid positivity rates declining in bazaars may be because the urban dwellers are more conscious of safety protocols, following the lockdown strictly and the strong presence of police to enforce the rules, he said.
However, it is seen that some people in villages do not consider wearing masks as important as they have the self-belief of a superior health due to a village life and hence, there are Covid protocol violations in some places and also police are not present everywhere in rural areas, shared the SKM spokesperson. He informed that the BDOs, SDMs and police have been directed to ensure that lockdown rules are strongly followed in villages also to prevent Covid spread.
Khaling highlighted the steps taken by the SKM government under the leadership of Chief Minister P.S. Golay to protect the people of Sikkim from Covid pandemic since 2020. One of the major achievements was installing an oxygen plant in STNM hospital last year itself which is now saving lives of Sikkimese people in the second wave of Covid, he said. He shared about how the SKM government has strengthened the public healthcare infrastructure within a short time of two years wherein nearly all ailments can be treated in Sikkim.
Khaling maintained that the previous SDF government of 25 years failed to set up even medical facilities like ICU, dialysis unit and ventilators in government healthcare institutions. “During its 25 years of rule, the SDF government was indifferent to the healthcare needs of Sikkimese people. The healthcare sector was in a zero condition but SKM government worked hard and honestly to increase its standard to a higher position,” he said.