Assam to conduct 3 lakh Covid-19 tests from October 12-14

GUWAHATI: With no vaccine in sight before November, the Assam health department has decided to carry out three lakh Covid tests from October 12 to October 14 to isolate maximum positive cases from society ahead of the Durga Puja festival.
Top official sources in the health department said the previous goal of three lakh tests in three days, accomplished in September-end, brought down the positivity rate in the state. “It has been decided that another mammoth Covid testing drive will be conducted from October 12-14. This is going to be significant in containing Covid infection ahead of the Durga Puja festival, when people may step out in large numbers and visit Durga Puja pandals, despite the threat from the virus,” a senior official of the health department told TOI on Thursday.
Even as the state government is likely to publish a SOP to manage visitors in the Durga Puja pandals very soon, the testing drive is aimed at isolating a significant number of positive cases, before these can spread infection in the festive season.
Though the state-wide Covid infection rate has been brought down from about 7% to 3-4%, after three lakh tests were conducted in September-end, the failure to ensure social distancing in public places in the state and global concerns after a second wave of Covid-19 hit Europe are worrying a section of health officials.
“Till November-end, Assam is unlikely to get any vaccine for mass immunization. Till the vaccine arrives in the market, we must isolate, test vigorously and reduce Covid deaths,” the official said, revealing that in Guwahati hospitals, 30% beds are still vacant for treating new Covid cases.
“The most satisfactory part is that 70% hospital beds are occupied but 30% have been found vacant in Guwahati hospitals, where Covid facilities are there. This is a great relief when more infection was feared during the festive season in October. Starting from ICU beds and oxygen, the state health department is ahead of requirement,” he added.
Assam features among the top-10 states in the country which performed remarkably on fulfilling WHO’s advice of 140 tests a day per million population (see box). According to a Union ministry of health and family welfare statement issued on Thursday, Assam is in the ninth position with 1,033 tests per day per million in the tally of states carrying out more tests than the WHO recommendation. This has been above the national average of 865 tests per day per million population, where Delhi is at the top with 2,861 tests per day per million.
“Higher testing across wide regions leads to early identification of positive cases, prompt tracking through efficient surveillance and tracing, and timely and effective treatment in homes/facilities and in hospitals for the severe cases. These measures in tandem eventually lead to lower mortality rate,” read the statement.