28 May 2020  |   03:28am IST

Are COVID negative certificates a positive safety indicator?

The spread of the virus across the country and in Goa has been rapid and the importance of testing could not be more apparent. The problem is that testing of the virus may not be as fool proof as was thought earlier. This is because the virus takes time to manifest itself. Café spoke to doctors in the state to understand how fool proof the COVID negative certificates, giving entry to plane passengers to Goa were
Are COVID negative certificates a positive safety indicator?

Ajit John

The only way to control the virus as per present circumstances is to conduct a test and if found positive, it is then straight to the hospital. If not then it is imperative that the person maintain the protocol required ie social distancing. But the question that is begging to be asked is whether this test can be considered fool proof given that the virus takes a while to manifest itself.    

    There is nothing fool proof in Covid 19. Just because you have a certificate it means nothing. You can test positive on the fifth day after testing negative in the first four days. This test is just for our satisfaction. For me what is important is the death rate. If one is infected, one can go to the hospital. It is spreading very fast. The best precaution is to follow all the protocols issued by the authorities. Social distancing is very important. Remember, just because people test negative it means nothing. It does not mean that the person can go around meeting everyone and ignoring the protocols. It is like safe driving. Follow the rules and safety first. Rash behaviour can have serious consequences for you and everyone around you.  

Shekhar Salkar,  Consultant Oncology, Manipal Hospital

The testing certificate cannot be the final result. You have to remember the incubation period and the detection period is important. If today I have made contact, if I take the test today, it will not show anything. The result may be very different in five days. The tests are very good and I believe the throat swap is the best because it actually looks at the virus. I believe the validity of any test certificate is only good for three to four days.  

Dr Lloyd de souza General Physician Calangute

It is very questionable. In India everything is available for a price and if you are a person of influence you can certainly get a negative result. So, I am not very sure about the validity of these cases. It is for this reason; I insist that anyone coming int Goa should be tested again even if he or she claims to have been tested for the place she was coming in.   

Dr Hubert Gomes , Margoa

Fool proof depends on how long ago it was done. If it was close to the date of the journey then we can consider the negative result as fool proof.  

Dr Oscar Rebello Consultant Physician

It all depends on what day he or she was tested. Remember there is an incubation process involved with this virus. After that you will get the symptoms of the virus. If you are negative it means nothing. For me I believe than the test, personal hygiene and social distancing is important. Till now, there is no cure for this virus. We have to be on our guard.    

Dr Sanjay khope, Surgeon

I firmly believe that as per available knowledge, a negative test is no indicator of good health. The different tests provide you with different percentages of clearance so to speak. What is required is that one maintain the protocols that are in place. Better safe than sorry.    

Medical Professional from Ponda

They need to be authentic, it is important to note that the result can change depending on when the test was conducted. The test does not give you any guarantee. I would advise everyone to maintain social distance, personal hygiene is very important. You have to take precautions hence forth because this is how life is going  to be like.  

Medical professional in Caranzalem

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar