Manipur’s second COVID-19 patient, who tested negative twice during treatment at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, will have to stay few more days in the hospital, officials said.

In a statement on Monday evening, the additional director and spokesperson Dr Sasheekumar Mangang of the state health department said the second COVID-19 patient after testing negative had undergone the second mandatory test on April 19 and tested negative.

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“However he will remain in RIMS hospital for few more days for the treatment/observation of his diabetic status,” said the statement.

Medical superintendent Prof Ch Arunkumar of RIMS, who is minutely monitoring the health status of the second COVID-19 patient from the day one in the hospital, said the male patient is almost ready for discharge except his old health issue status.

A meeting between the treating team and core committee of the institute was held on Monday and discussed the present health status of the patient, he said.

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On Saturday, the patient, who tested positive on April 2, was tested negative for the first time since she underwent treatment at the hospital in Imphal.

Manipur was on the map of COVID-19 affected states of the country after a 23-year-old girl with a travel history to the UK tested positive on March 24 last.

However, she was discharged from the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital after her recovery on April 12.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state health department in the statement said on Monday, the state government announced some relaxations to the restrictions on the lockdown.

In the absence of curative drugs and vaccines, the public is reminded that prevention is the best medicine.

Prevention measures like wearing free mask, washing hands with soap, avoiding close contact and movement restrictions should be fully complied, the statement added.