At a time when States should have been closely monitoring prevalence of severe acute respiratory infection [SARI] & influenza-like illness [ILI])/ respiratory distress symptoms for early hotspot identification as winter sets in and pollution level increases, many of them have slowed the pace of conducting Covid-19 tests.
Fearing that this poor pace could undermine the actual infection spread within the community, the Centre has taken exception to this disturbing and casual approach, particularly in the backdrop of multiple surges in the Covid-19 caes in a majority of countries in recent times and a few developed nations reporting even fourth and fifth wave despite high levels of Covid vaccination.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday wrote to at least 13 states including the populated one like Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal and those in Northeast such as Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram to increase the pace of testing. The other three States are Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh.
The Ministry said that in the absence of sustained levels of sufficient testing, it is very difficult to determine the true level of infection spread in a geography.
“Nagaland has reported 342 average daily tests as of the week ending 22nd November. This is in a stark contrast to a high of 1,250 average daily tests conducted in the week of August 23-29. It is also worrying to note that the state has recorded a positivity of 1.5 per cent in the week ending 22nd November, having stagnated over the past 4 weeks, with an abysmally low share of RT-PCR tests i.e.,8.2 per cent,” the Ministry cited the status to the States.
“Further, worrying trends with regards to tests, tests per million, positivity rate and higher dependence on Rapid Antigen tests have been observed in various districts of the State… The positivity in districts such as Mokukchong and Peren has been above 2.5 per cent, with RT-PCR share falling below a decent proportion of the total tests.”
The Ministry has directed these states to maintain the momentum and build on the progress made so far to bring the pandemic situation under control.
“While there has been a significant decline in the new cases with 10,195, average daily cases reported in the week ending 22nd November, it has been observed that there has also been a decline in weekly testing rates,” wrote Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to these states and territories.
The letter said in the absence of sustained levels of sufficient testing, it is very difficult to determine the true level of infection spread. “With a majority of countries seeing multiple surges in Covid cases in recent times and a few developed countries facing even fourth and
fifth waves despite high levels of Covid vaccination, there is a need for continued vigil given the unpredictable and contagious nature of the disease…”