Concern over poor contact tracing in Punjab

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11

Poor contact tracing of patients has emerged as a major hurdle in Punjab’s Covid control efforts. Contact tracing is vital as it helps in early diagnosis and checking the spread.

At present, the state has tracing rate of 13.4 contacts per case, although as per norms, it should be 25-30. In a recent communication, the Centre asked the state to focus on contact tracing, particularly in Patiala and Ludhiana districts. Sources say shortage of manpower is hampering the surveillance efforts. The government now is making efforts to test at least 20 persons per positive patient. Till September last year, at 4.4 against the national norm of 10, Punjab’s contact tracing was one of the poorest in the country.

Punjab Working on it

• The state is tracing 13.4 contacts per positive patient. As per norms, it should be 25-30
• Officials say efforts are on to test at least 20 persons per case