'Why are asymptomatic not being tested?'

Amdavadi files plea in High Court against several Covid decisions of State govt, including their discharge policy

An Amdavadi has taken the Gujarat government to court over its decision to not test asymptomatic Covid patients and its newly introduced policy of discharging asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients in 10 days without conducting double negative RT-PCR tests.

Pritesh Shah, a businessman living in the Walled City, submitted a plea in Gujarat High Court stating that the State government should not relax lockdown before taking preventive measures to test super spreaders in the city or else the impact of lockdown will be nullified. The hearing of the plea is likely to be conducted along with suo moto cognisance taken by the HC on different issues related to Covid-19.

The petition cites multiple news reports published in various newspapers regarding a range of issues including non-testing of asymptomatic persons, newly adopted discharge policy for Covid patient, expensive treatment at private hospitals etc. "The authorities' decision to test only those who have come in contact with Covid-positive patients and not those who have come in touch with asymptomatic patients is wholly arbitrary," stated the plea.

The plea claimed that the State government's policy of discharging asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients sans fever without double negative RT-PCR tests in 10 days is arbitrary and can cause further spread of infection among public.

The plea further stated that Gujarat government is planning to ease lockdown after May 17, but it should be a well-thought plan especially in Ahmedabad. It becomes extremely imperative that super-spreaders and potential super-spreaders are identified, tested and where necessary, isolated. The pricey Covid treatment at private hospitals is also being challenged in the plea.

After the onset of Covid in the State, HC had taken suo moto cognisance of various issues related to the pandemic, and issued a series of directions to the State government. Taking note of two Mirror reports published on Monday, one on citizens unable to seek immediate medical help (In pain? Grin and bear because cops won't let you meet your doctor; May 11) and another on the homeless going hungry (Give us food or kill us NOW, May 11), HC had asked Gujarat government to submit a reply.