Intensify sample testing to curb virus spread
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 28, 2021 -

NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that upping the sample testing process will automatically raise the positivity rate considering the spike in the number of daily cases for the last few weeks and spread of the virus to all parts of the state, the deepening health crisis in the state definitely merits vigorous and extensive tests so as to identify, isolate and treat the vectors.

For instance, the lowest daily cases of 320 in the current month was recorded on May 17 as JNIMS ceased sample examination after few laboratory personnel contracted the infectious disease.

That the number of samples tested is correlated with the rate of infection could also be comprehended from a recent case of 538 people found positive for Covid-19 on May 24 when only 2600 tests were conducted.

As the number of samples tested the next day improved to 3788 the state saw the highest ever spike of 824 only for the record to be broken on Wednesday with 847 new cases out of 4075 samples tested.

Such a trend corroborates that with the increase in the number of tests, the rate of infection would naturally rise as the pandemic has been breaching all barriers.

While the twin capital districts continue to be the hotbed of the virus in the first as well as the second wave of the pandemic, frequent reports of large scale detection of vectors in the rural pockets is most worrisome as location of villages far away from the nearest healthcare centres would eventually mean that mildly infected village folks wouldn't give much importance to consult with the medical personnel.

Rather than seeking timely medication, these folks are most likely to believe in the natural remedies and tradition medicines assuming the ailment to be seasonal flu and curable with locally available herbs as their forefathers relied upon.

Thus, it is imperative that the government authorities despatch medical teams" to not only provide treatment to the infected villagers but also impress upon the local leaders and elders that one must go for testing at the slightest hintof contractlng the coronavirus.

The village folks must also be outrightly reminded that delaying treatment of Covid-19 is one of the causes of death of patients.

Unlike in the urban areas where boundary fencing separates one house or clan clusters from the neighbours; open courtyards, sanitary facilities shared by multiple families, undermining of the Covid-19 safety protocols, unrestrained interactions, sharing dishes, etc, have been the hallmark of style of living in the villages.

Lack of understanding or downplaying the threat perception of the pandemic has been the root cause behind positive cases detected in bulk in the rural areas.

As such, the test rate needs to be increased even it is means converting existing buildings into Covid care or isolation centres.

In case the contagion could not be brought under control then it is obvious that the state's healthcare infrastructure will collapse and bring immense hardships to all sections of the society.

As people seldom take the test till development of Covid-19 symptoms, it is desired that the government launch intense publicity campaign to make the citizens realise that early diagnosis of the virus will help avoid complicacy in treatment and save lives.