Kerala: ‘Aggressive testing key to curb community spread’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Any delay in testing people and getting the results of the samples would adversely affect the containment of ‘super spread’ that have been reported in certain parts of the state. Experts point out that the only way to curb this spread of Covid-19 is to focus on aggressive testing and isolation of all primary contacts without transmitting it into secondary contacts.
“Test all symptomatic people within 48 hours and bring out the results in 24 hours.Any delay in getting the results would affect the isolation of the primary contacts. This will be riskier. Instead of waiting for RT-PCR, it is always better to go for antigen tests in such clusters as it gives faster results,’’ said internal medicine expert Dr Arun N M.
Experts are of the view that Poonthura incident should be seen as a community cluster rather than a super spread. This should be seen as a path for massive community spread.
“The state health department had issued a containment strategy when such clusters were formed in Malappuram. Testing is the key to curb such spreading. Test as many people and isolate them. There should be a total lockdown in such areas,’’ said Dr A Althaf, associate professor, Manjeri Medical College Hospital.
The experts are also of the view that at least in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam now travel history should not be made the criteria for testing.
“Every person in such clusters should be tested as anyone can be a super spreader now. The biggest chance for super spreader are healthcare workers in those regions,’’ said Dr N Sulphi, state vice-president of Indian Medical Association.
The inordinate delay in getting the results is a concern. RT-PCR test results are getting delayed for a week. In Thiruvananthapuram, the results of samples sent one week ago from Neyyattinkara hospital have not yet been received.