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
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