Most samples tested through contact tracing
Jharkhand is said to be among the safer zones in comparison to other States in terms of spread of coronavirus. So much so, that only one per cent of total samples tested here has found to be positive. In Jharkhand till date, 15,926 samples have been tested and out of which 15,799 samples report is negative.
State Health Secretary, Dr Nitin Madan Kulkarni said, “Out of total samples tested only one per cent samples report is positive. “ However, the health secretary said that most of samples which were tested are through contact tracing. Contact tracing is an integral part of fighting the epidemic on the ground. Contact tracing is the process of identifying, assessing and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent transmission.
As per ICMR guidelines, which are also directions that have sound public health sense behind them, people who may have been exposed to the virus are to be followed for 28 days from the date of the probable last exposure/arrival from affected place.
Moreover, Jharkhand’s doubling rate is also much better than nation average. Jharkhand’s virus doubling rate is 27.8 days which is better than national average. The state to check the spread of virus has divided the regions in 46 containment zones. Also, Ranchi is only district which has been designated as “Red Zone” while nine other districts of Jharkhand are in the “Orange Zone” of novel coronavirus. The rest 14 districts are in the Green Zone.
However, despite rosy pictures for Jharkhand the State is on alert mode as with influx of migrant labourers the virus is ‘likely’ to spread. In last five days, 20600 migrant labourers and students have returned to the State from across the country. Fourteen trains carrying migrant labourers and students have reached Jharkhand and still the process is continuing.
The Jharkhand government to check the spread of disease has made it mandatory of 20 days quarantine for returning migrant labourers and students. Also, the migrant labourers and students are thoroughly checked at railway stations. A health official requesting anonymity said, “Thermal scanner of every returning person is being done. Also those returning from outside state have been put on 20 days quarantine, however, still we can’t ignore the risk as there are chances that infection can spread from them as there is no resources to man them round the clock.”
The Jharkhand government to check the spread of virus has provided 10 days ration to every migrant labourers returning. Moreover, every individual is monitored through modern technology and traditional social policing. Those returning are registered to Sahayata App. Those returning back location is also traced whether they don’t mingle with anyone else. The state government is also creating awareness about the disease through public representatives such as mukhiya, sarpanch and others.