SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
PRATIK PARAB
MARGAO/PANJIM: In an almost unnoticed section of the daily health bulletin issued by the Directorate of Health Services daily, there is an alarming figure - the number of test results awaited. This number now almost touching 6000, effectively means that the figures of positive and negative cases given out each day is a minuscule of the whole ecosystem of tests conducted. So the results we are getting are only a fragment of the tests actually conducted. Moreover, that day's results are actually a part of the previous backlog.
The Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had said on June 14."We are ready for any kind of spike. Everyone is saying that there will be a spike in June-July but that is just saying. On the ground we are ready" Vishwajit had claimed.
However, the situation has just started deteriorating. The COVID warriors in the health sector are waiting for a peak only after which, the curve will start flattening. But, the testing mechanism is already on its knees now and on the verge of collapsing.
He had mentioned that the new machine of M2000 which does about 256 tests per day (24 hrs) was already commissioned. However, it doesn’t appear that these machines are in operation yet.
The Health Minister on June 14, had promised a planned approach. One assumes this would have included an approach towards testing and giving test results in a reasonable time. But let’s look at the pattern of pendencies in results. Take for instance, the bulletin of July 26. Out of 8,219 samples, 1,411 were negative. 175 are positive and then look at his- 6,633 ‘reports awaited’. On July 27 it dropped marginally to 5934
If this is not alarming, then nothing will be. It shows how little we know of the real numbers. Or made to know. But let’s do some number gazing. In just one week from July 20 to 26, the number of test samples for which results are awaited has gone up by almost 300 % from 2585 to 6633. In ten days, i.e. from July 15 to 25 the number has almost doubled (see box).
There is a lot we do not know. For instance, there is no idea when the samples of those results, which are declared, are tested. Ground-level reports indicate that it takes about four to five days for results to come. While those who test positive get the benefit of the results slightly earlier, the uncertainty is killing even if the results are negative.
The doctor-in-charge of COVID operations in Goa Dr Utkarsh Betodkar gave a detailed response to some of the concerns raised (see box for more replies) which mainly centred on a high number of samples. His forecast for the coming week brings no solace,.. “This week there will be a trouble because of the backlog. Reports will be delayed. With one thousand and more samples per day, the backlog will increase.
