RANCHI: A day after Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's meeting with chief ministers of all states and
Union territories on more intensive
testing to prevent a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the
state health department on Thursday swung into action and directed all 24 districts to increase the rate of sample testing to check the spread of the virus.
State health secretary K K Soan issued a letter in this regard asking the deputy commissioners to ensure that the number of the tests are conducted in accordance with the target issued by the state government.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, state epidemiologist Dr Praveen Karn said they are already putting people, who have returned to the state from highly prevalent areas, under surveillance.
He also said to ensure that there is no possible threat of a surge in infection, tests will be increased in districts where it was reduced keeping in mind the surge in other states.
“Our state has seen a minor increase in the infections and might increase more in the coming weeks due to the unrestricted movement of people from high-burden areas. Hence, the
district authorities have been asked to step up testing of all such people who have returned from such areas as well as of symptomatic patients. The authorities have also been asked to conduct contact tracing of those who have returned from the high-burden areas,” Dr Karn said.
He added, “The surveillance units of all districts are already on alert and they have been tracking those who have returned from the high-burden areas within the country as well as from foreign destinations.”
In Soan's letter, a summary of the tests of the last 14 days was also attached and directed the DCs to enhance testing and contact tracing. The summary highlighted a few districts which have performed poorly.
According to the summary, Sahebganj and West Singhbhum have performed badly with a compliance of 13% of the testing target. Meanwhile, Saraikela reported 17% compliance, Godda 24%, Pakur 29% and Dhanbad reported 33%.
Health department sources said the summary was attached as the health department was dissatisfied with the performance of a few districts.