Covid-19: Punjab focus moves away from asymptomatic, healthy contacts

JALANDHAR: Even as guidelines on discharge of asymptomatic Covid-19 positive patients have been revised in Punjab based on the Union health ministry’s decision, there is also a shift in strategy on testing contacts of the Covid-19 positive cases.
Earlier, the health department would aggressively test all contacts of a Covid-19 positive patient but now they will only test contacts who are symptomatic or are asymptomatic and high risk and have direct link with the patient. The asymptomatic, non-high risk and indirect contacts would only be kept under watch and will not be tested.
The number of positive cases may come down for some time in view of the new approach being adapted, according to sources in the health department. However, at the same time focus would be more on testing symptomatic and high-risk cases. The health department officers are keeping their fingers crossed about the result of relaxations as a spike in positive cases in the next few weeks is not being ruled out.
“Earlier, we would test each and every contact of a positive patient even if they were asymptomatic, not immediate contacts or not in high risk category. However, now the focus on taking samples of the close contacts of a known patient, while from rest of the contacts we would be focus is on high risk and symptomatic patients. The contacts who are not high risk, not directly linked and asymptomatic would be kept under watch and would be advised quarantine so that in case they develop any symptoms, they can be tested,” said a health department official closely associated with the state’s Covid-19 strategy.
“Such a shift was also there during swine flu when initially all contacts would be traced and tested but later the approach shifted when it became clear that things had gone beyond tracing,” the health department expert added.
“Earlier we would take samples even if somebody completely healthy and asymptomatic would say that he was an indirect contact. However, now we shall keep all such contacts under watch. Already more than 90% Covid-19 positive patients are asymptomatic in Punjab and they did not require any medication,” said another health department official.
When asked, Jalandhar civil surgeon Dr Gurinder Kaur Chawla said, “The change is there as per the fresh guidelines. Earlier, we would take samples of all asymptomatic contacts, but we would now focus on symptomatic, close and high risk contacts,” she said and added that testing of contacts would come down but at the same time tests were being increased in other directions.
According to the fresh guidelines circulated by Punjab’s health department, pregnant women in containment areas or in larger migration gatherings from hotspot districts would also be tested in case they are likely to deliver in five days even if they are asymptomatic.
Symptomatic migrant labourers and all arrested persons would also be tested. Some categories have also been mentioned in the guidelines for sample testing.
The common refrain among the health officials and personnel is that fresh guidelines and approach have brought some reprieve at least for now after asymptomatic patients were discharged. However, at the same time, the strategy has also brought some quick positive changes in the ‘recovery’ data, which according to earlier practice would have been slower.