On the day that the State government announced that it had procured five machines, a one-of-a-kind PCR-based diagnostic kit and 2000 rapid COVID-19 testing kits, a group of citizens raised concerns regarding public health issues and the availability of medical facilities in the State to deal with the pandemic. The new facilities that the State has procured are expected to help speed up the screening process of suspected Coronavirus patients. After the virology lab that has been set up at Goa Medical College, the new testing machines installed at three hospitals, are expected to reduce the time that is currently being taken to detect positive cases. The State appears to have done what it can to meet the growing threat of the virus, but then again, has it?
As pointed out by the citizen’s group, the recommendation from the World Health Organisation is to have large-scale testing, failing which there is the possibility that asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic carriers of the virus may be missed out. Goa has been testing only those who report to the government facilities with symptoms of COVID-19 and who have a travel history to countries affected by the virus. This does leave out a large number of people from being tested. Of the seven cases in the State, six are persons who had travelled abroad recently, and one is the brother of a patient. Goa is, therefore, ruling out local or community transmission based on this. The State has also been aggressive in sending into quarantine contacts of all those who have tested positive, thereby reducing the chances of local or community transmission.
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Two weeks into the quarantine, there has been no local transmission reported. But, this is no time to relax. A valid point raised in the letter is that while the lockdown will help bring down the number of cases to a certain extent, it will not eliminate the virus completely. As such, Goa needs to plan for when the lockdown is lifted, and the possibility of further cases arising. As long as borders remain closed, there is some sense of safety, but once there is free movement, the risk increases. Plans for the coming weeks ahead have not been announced, but the cabinet is meeting on Wednesday to hear the views of the ministers on the lockdown. The point to be stressed is that free movement of traffic across the borders cannot be allowed, at this time. The citizens in the letter have also sought that a post-lockdown policy be announced.
Another issue raised in the letter by the citizens is of equipment for health care staff. The State government has also announced a raise in the salaries of all those – ranging from doctors to the sweepers and drivers – treating COVID-19 patients or working with the quarantined patients. While that should give those on the frontlines some impetus to work harder, one has to understand that they are doctors and nurses who are fully aware of the risks they are taking when treating the COVID-19 patients. What is of absolute importance is that the staff treating the novel Coronavirus patients have all the personal protective equipment that is mandated for such situations. The government has to go beyond that and provide them all other facilities, including proper meals and suitable accommodation for the period during which they are on duty and the crisis continues.
Now is the time to be even more alert and not let down the guard as test reports come negative. The State can remain safe from COVID-19 as long as all the precautions being taken continue. While relaxations will have to be introduced, they should not lead to complacency. The latter is what led to the outbreak going out of control in some European nations.
