Targeted testing drive at Khekman in Lilong AC
Only 16 come forward for testing
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, November 20 2020:
The Targeted RAT drive necessitated by the recently concluded by-election at Lilong Assembly Constituency utterly failed as only 16 persons came forward for the COVID-19 test till 3.30 pm today.
Significantly, the drive targeted to cover 500 people today at Khekman under Lilong AC in Thoubal district.
However, COVID-19 tests were conducted only on 16 persons including two women.
All of them tested negative for coronavirus.
A medical officer who was part of the sero-survey said two medical teams arrived at Khekman to start the survey from 11 in the morning.
As none visited the camp, they waited hours for people to come.
The survey started at 2 pm when some people arrived.
Till 3.30 pm, tests were conducted on 16 persons only.
All of them including two women tested negative for COVID-19, the officer said.
When asked about the very low turnout, one health expert said it was possibly due to fear of being tested positive among the people.
People are 'skeptical or afraid' of the test, he said adding door to door testing would solve the problem of low turnout.
It may be mentioned that a similar survey is on at Wangoi Assembly Constituency where by-election was held on November 7 .
On the first day of the survey, as many as 95 persons tested positive for COVID-19 .
And health experts are of the opinion that the number could be higher as the test was done on only one person per household.
Till the time of filing this report late in the evening, there were no updates on the total number of turnout at Khekman.
Meanwhile, similar surveys will begin at Wangjing and Sapam under Wangjing-Tentha Assembly Constituency on November 21 .
Thoubal district Deputy Commissioner N Bandana, MLAs Y Antas Khan and P Brojen and other district level officers had held meetings at the former's office yesterday regarding the targeted test.