Shift testing to top gear to keep COVID-19 at bay

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala fails to tally growing number of people under surveillance with number of tests done each day.

Where 25,000 people are put under observation a day, the state can churn out just 400 results, leaving hapless others at risk.

However, Kerala’s health minister, KK Shailaja said on Sunday that ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has given approval for rapid tests.

Most of those under surveillance are home-quarantined waiting to be tested only if they show symptoms of COVID-19. 

They are highly likely to pass on the viruses to relatives, in case the virus is still lying in wait. 

Rapid tests could help pin down on potential careers, thus warding off virus spread.

The minister also pointed at this benefit when she said rapid tests could help a big way in preventing community spread.

Meanwhile, many worry about a situation where doctors and other care-givers getting infected with the virus, thus jeopardising the whole system.

This worry is not misplaced given the limited healthcare resources with which the state is fighting a highly debilitating pandemic.

This again shows how badly the state needs rapid testing facilities.

However, rapid tests are not confirmatory, as ICMR said that a negative result doesn’t rule out COVID-19, it takes two-stage tests before labelling confirmation.

However, rapid tests could easily map ripe careers in a short time.