India needs a more aggressive testing regimen: Experts
NEW DELHI: Experts are calling for an aggressive ramping up of testing in India to stave off the deadly infection that has claimed at least 5,500 lives across the world, pointing out that the current capacity to screen people may prove to be inadequate in case of a sudden surge in infections.
India has made arrangements to nearly double its capacity to test for the novel coronavirus and started random screening of samples, but in a country this large, the dangerous community transmission phase of the disease, when it spreads to people who have neither been to a global hot spot nor been in direct contact with someone testing positive, could have deadly ramifications.
India reported two deaths in the past week, and 84 confirmed infections, far lower than disease hot spots in China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. Medical authorities have, until Saturday, tested 6,700 samples.
India’s top medical body, the Indian Council for Medical Research, said it is ready for a sudden surge in cases, by adding to its network of laboratories capable of testing for Covid-19, and by procuring more testing reagents. “We have added the number of labs to about 65 and at this point we can perform 100,000 tests, effectively about 10,000 tests in a day. We have made further arrangements to procure reagents to be able to do about 200,000 more tests, if required,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of the ICMR.
However, at the moment, only those with a history of travel to 12 countries designated as high-risk, or those who have come in contact with anyone testing positive for the coronavirus, or showing symptoms of the disease, are being tested.
Dr Lalit Kant, an expert in infectious diseases, said: “The South Korea model [of aggressive testing] is good, as it worked well. It can be tried in India also as because of the high population we may soon be expecting large numbers to test.”
In South Korea, which is experiencing the largest outbreak of the epidemic outside mainland China where the virus originated late last year, authorities have enforced a unique and aggressive testing regimen.
› We have added the number of labs to about 65 and at this point we can perform 100,000 tests, effectively about 10,000 tests in a day DR BALRAM BHARGAVA, director general of the ICMR.
LUCKNOW: Ram Navmi Mela will be organised in Ayodhya as per schedule and there will be no change in the event due to coronavirus, the district administration said on Saturday.
Several lakh people are expected to arrive in Ayodhya during the nine-day Ram Navmi fair starting on March 25.
Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Jha on Saturday denied any plan to cancel or postpone the event. “A fake news is in circulation in news groups regarding the CMO’s demand for stopping Ram Navmi Mela due to coronavirus. Let me clarify it’s completely false. Ram Navmi will be celebrated as per traditions and with the required care and precautions. The administration will issue a timely advisory for people and will take all necessary steps for the health of the visiting devotees,” said Jha. Every year, Ram Navmi mela is organised in Ayodhya during the nine-day festival in which people not only from the temple town, but also from the adjoining districts participate in large numbers.CM Yogi Adityanath will perform puja at the Ram Janmabhoomi on the first day of Navratri on March 25.
Adityanath is likely to reach Ayodhya on March 24 late in the evening and will stay there overnight in order to perform puja the next day. Before the festive occasion, the idol of Ram Lalla will be relocated to another location on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus early on March 24 with full Vedic rituals, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust had announced last week.
Preparations are on a war footing on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus for shifting of the idol.
A platform is being constructed where the deity will be seated. It is near the entry gate inside the Ram Janmabhoomi campus where Ram Lalla will be shifted from the makeshift temple and then placed on this platform inside a pre-fabricated structure.