Multiclusters suspected in TS

Missing links and multiclusters are worrying epidemiologists as contact tracing of the eight Covid-19 patients from Indonesia has led to an estimated 1,500 people who could have come in contact with them. Of these, vendors in train and people who came in close contact with them at the congregation are in the “missing” section. These people are difficult to trace.

Multi-clusters are expected among the local people who came into contact with the Indonesians and who have moved away. These are a mix of locals and non-locals. The state now has a huge responsibility to identify these contacts.

Contact tracing is the most important form of controlling the spread of the Covid-19. Identifying multi-clusters requires the names and contacts of all the people who attended the congregation and their next destination.

These congregations typically have people moving from one place to another for offering prayers as well as forming into small groups which then move to different areas and different parts of the country.

The task of tracing who has gone where is a puzzle for health officials. To add to the puzzle, are newly appointed surveillance officers who are moving door to door to trace the contacts.

“It is like a detective job as all suspects are to be brought together. This requires co-operation from contact people. Some say they forgot or exactly not sure if they met the person while some dodge questions and mislead,” explained a senior health official.