Why More Tests For Corona ?

it is now easier to go for more number of tests.Even the other day, there was a report of a new technique developed by IIT-H, which can give report in 20 minutes and at much less than Rs.500/.Also this is the time when established private labs too are authorised to conduct the tests at affordable costs, so that those interested can have an access and undergo testing ! The centre has authorised some labs in the private sector, and the states need to take advantage of this.There may be a very large number of asymptomatic carriers and once tested positive, they can be made to simply undergo home quarantine with  the probability of spreading awfully reduced and it indirectly helps the management of the pandemic easier for government with lesser burden on public health.Such large number of asymptomatic carriers  is an indirect measure of another positive outcome which is ‘ herd immunity ‘.

Besides, testing helps understanding the profile of the spread of the pandemic in different populations, regions, age groups etc and this in turn paves way for identifying hot spots and labelling  divisions.Thus the need of the hour is to test, test and test ! Honestly, the ‘treat’ part assumes lesser significance relative to this, as except in severe cases of much less than 10%, the others may need a mild symptomatic treatment with a simple access to the physician and may not even require hospitalisation.Once that high risk group is identified and segregated, it would be easier to beam greater focus on them.

The government is contemplating to include two more conditions as testing criteria ,which is a good development. They are :1) loss of smell and 2) loss of taste

You can see my next post after 24 hours !

✍️