Covid-19: Telangana authorities order more testing, surveillance

HYDERABAD: Health authorities have decided to increase testing for Covid-19 in certain districts to 3000 from a meagre 1000 daily tests, even as Adilabad, Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jogulamba Gadwal, Warangal rural, Karimangar, and Nizamabad reported spike in coronovirus positive numbers.
Authorities have identified 11 areas across the border districts, where a spike has been observed. Health officials have been touring these areas, including Sattupalili and Madira. Local authorities have been told to bring positivity rate below 1 per cent immediately by conducting more tests, enforcing social distancing and early tracing.
“It is better to refrain from attending large social gatherings, especially in closed rooms,” said Dr Kiran Madala, an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) certified researcher.
Meanwhile, public health expert and assistant professor at UoH’s School of Management Studies, Dr Ranjit Kumar Dehury, said that there was a strong need for putting up social distance protocol regulation mechanism.
Telangana health authorities also said they will follow the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest guidelines. According to WHO, Covid-19 testing during the non-peak stage should be more focused on conglomeration and identifying new areas of outbreaks while during the peak, every symptomatic person and every person who is a suspect should be tested. “We were asked to regularly monitor the positivity rate and inform the higher-ups,” a district level official said.
Covid-19 surveillance has also been re-launched with immediate effect in many areas with potential spikes. In Khammam, over 1,000 people showed fever symptoms within two days. The state health department has blamed large gatherings, non-compliance of Covid-19 protocol and movement across borders as reasons for the spike in cases.
At the ongoing Bonalu festivities in the city, 3 lakh people took darshan at Yellamma temple in Balkampet till Monday. Experts warn that though the second wave is waning, large congregations will lead to more infections.