New Delhi, in a bid to stem the surge of novel coronavirus cases, has asked people arriving in the national capital from five States—Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab—to show a negative test report for COVID-19 till March 15.
People arriving from those states need not carry a rapid antigen test (frequently referred to as a rapid test) but “RT-PCR”— considered the “gold standard” for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test actually detects RNA (or genetic material) that is specific to the virus and can detect the virus within days of infection, even those who have no symptoms.
The J&K government has ordered strengthening of the preventive mechanism at the Srinagar Airport, instructing the Srinagar and Budgam district administrations to set up additional coronavirus testing facilities there and to enable quick receipt of test reports.
It has ordered no inbound traveller be allowed to leave the airport until their COVID-19 test report is received, directing that test reports be issued on the spot before letting the travellers go. However, the reliance is on rapid test which is only accurate in a patient who is having symptoms of COVID-19. While the rapid test can get results very quickly, they may not always be accurate. In those who don’t have symptoms, the false negative rate — meaning a test is negative but actually has the disease — can be as high as 50%. This can have tremendous consequences and may not contain the spread of COVID-19 at a time when the trajectory of the steady decline in virus curve has already began to reverse in the past week following a spike in cases in the five States. There is no mechanism for those travelling by bus and other means.
A steady drop in cases was recorded since mid-September last year despite the much-feared festival season, winter, large gatherings, and not-so-good adherence to mask wearing. However the recent resurgence of the cases is worrisome, especially when there is possibility of the spread of any of the three variants first found in other countries— South African, Brazilian and UK –or the emergence of a new variant in India.
A third sero survey conducted by the ICMR between December 17 last year and January 8 this year also found that only 21.5% of India have been exposed to the virus. In other words the herd immunity is far from being reached and that a large population is still vulnerable to infection. The Delhi model seems to be practical and the one which needs to be emulated immediately to protect a large vulnerable population.
