Intensify random testing
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 03, 2021 -

FOUR persons found positive for Covid-19 during the random tests conducting on 29 curfew violators on Tuesday lays bare the fact that there are many people who are either ignorant about the disease or are compelled to move around to sustain livelihood activities inspite of being suspicious of his/her own health condition.

Some days back, there were also similar reports of loiterers in Churachandpur town found to have contracted the infectious disease when police detained and subjected them to surprise testing at a mobile testing booth.

As such, the latest incident of four persons, including a woman, confirmed to be carriers of the highly transmissible virus during the mobile testing drive conducted at Singjamei Chinga Crossing underscores the importance of expanding similar random tests to prevent spread of the contagion.

A disturbing outcome of Tuesday’s mobile testing carried out as part of the ongoing aggressive mass testing drive in the virus hotspot Imphal West district is that three out of the four vectors are aged 22 to 27 years, considered to be the most active stage in one’s life.

The trio may or may not be aware of their health status but it is frighteningly possible that they could have spread the disease to others in their quest to survive the extended lockdown period.

With restrictions imposed for containing the virus hitting hard the unsalaried section of the society, it is but natural that the affected citizens would move out and look to seize the opportunity of the intermittent relaxation of the curfew hours to ensure their loved ones do not go to bed on empty stomach.

Regardless of the severe hardships being endured by many due to the pandemic crisis, the government cannot afford to ease the virus containment measures considering the gravity of the prevailing situation.

While ensuring edibles to the daily wagers might lessen the lockdown impact and encourage the poor to heed the call for remaining indoors, it is imperative that the government intensify the mass testing drive at the pre-designated venues and persist with the policy of conducting random tests at different locations.

As SOP violators rounded up on a daily basis generally number in hundreds, there is strong possibility of the vectors moving around undetected and infecting many others.

Apart from slapping monetary penalty against the curfew violators, it is desired that such recalcitrant individuals be subjected to Covid test at the nearest facility or increase the mobile testing teams.

In view of the coronavirus pandemic continuing on its destructive path and the state’s test positivity rate remaining disturbingly high, it needs no reminding that the health crisis will linger and not spare any community if the policy makers do not implement and intensify the trace, test and treat protocols.

No doubt, backing of the public will be the deciding factor on whether the crisis situation lingers or ends, but it is the government which must have steely resolve to break the chain of transmission.

As the persistent appeals to follow the safety protocols had not been yielding the desired result, the government shouldn’t fret from conducting forcible testing on whoever is found defying the SOP.