Tests ramped up even as TS sees fewer cases

1 lakh average tests daily; Tracing, tracking turns aggressive

With about a lakh of samples tested in the state on a daily basis, the tracing and tracking of Covid-19 cases are done aggressively in Telangana. When the numbers decline, the testing must be more as this means there are chances of missed cases, which can lead to super spreader situations.

Testing in the state is ramped up as the epidemiologists, district health officials and nodal officials are moving from place to place to keep track of the situation.

A health official in Karimnagar says, “We have instructions from the government to carry out the surveillance as seriously as it was done during the time of the swine flu. Vulnerable areas where there are more than five cases are visited in the districts.”

There are also large crowds at public health centres as people are queueing up for vaccination.

Local groups are pressuring doctors at these centres for out-of-turn vaccination. Bowenpally, Malkajgiri, Musheerabad, Maula Ali, Yapral and Alwal have seen large queues for vaccination since morning. A worry is that this too can lead to a spread of the virus.

The Covid positive numbers were going down and then increasing. This was noticed in districts like Bhadradri Kothagudem, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Nalgonda Siddipet and Warangal Urban.

Experts say that the next one week is crucial as movement of people will also indicate movement of virus. With the onset of the monsoon season, seasonal changes, wind movements and emergence of other flu viruses in the ecosystem, there will be more cases; and strict monitoring is required.