Centre writes to Punjab, Kerala, J-K ,10 other states and UTs over declining Covid testing rates

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 24

Amid multiple Covid-19 surges in various countries, the Centre on Wednesday sent out letters to 13 states and UTs including Punjab, witnessing drastic reductions in average daily tests that are critical for determining the level of infection in the community.

In a letter to Vikas Garg, Principal Secretary, Health, Punjab on Wednesday, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan flagged a nearly three-fold fall in the average daily tests being conducted by the state between May and November.

“Punjab has reported 24, 300 average daily tests as of week ending November 22. This is in stark contrast to a high of 71, 257 average daily tests conducted by Punjab in the week between May 17 and 23,” the letter states.

The health ministry told the state that in the absence of sustained levels of sufficient testing, it is very difficult to determine the true level of infection spread in a geography.

“With the majority of countries seeing multiple surges in Covid cases in recent times and few countries facing even fourth and fifth waves despite high levels of Covid vaccination, there is a need for continued vigil given the unpredictable and contagious nature of the disease. It is therefore important that the state maintains high testing given the recent increase in travelling due to various events such as marriages, festivities, vacations having either recently concluded or underway.

The Centre’s letter for need to raise testing has also gone out to Kerala (where average daily tests fell from 2.96 lakh in week ending August 15 to 56071 in week ending November 22), Maharashtra, Mizoram, Manipur, J&K, Goa, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Ladakh, West Bengal, Sikkim and Meghalaya.

The health secretary also said that although new cases have declined significantly at a national level, with 10, 195 average daily cases in the week ending November 22, “It has been observed that there has been a corresponding decline in weekly testing rates also”.