Moa Jamir
COVID-19 testing could not be ‘done for quite some time’ in Nagaland due to the non-availability of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits, the most simple, fastest and relatively accurate method of detecting the virus, The Morung Express reported on November 1.
Among others, ‘financial crunch’ was cited as a reason and while 50,000 RAT kits were purchased by the (health) department from its funds, it was informed that the department had also “written to the state government for the purchase of 1.50 lakh RAT kits several months back with no feedback."
As a result, testing could be done only in the Biosafety level Labs and reportedly, testings were not conducted in the important entry points to the State. The question on the low positivity rate remains doubtful as reliable sources from the medical department revealed the non-availability of RAT kits, the report observed.
Data on the daily ‘Nagaland COVID-19 Bulletin’ issued by the State’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Department of Health & Family Welfare seem to affirm the disclosure.
For instance, the ‘testing status’ in the bulletins informed that during the October 1-31 period, a total of 21,699 tests were conducted in the State, against the September figure of 58,226 tests. This denoted a decline by 36,527 in absolute terms and over 62.73% decline in the number of testing. Accordingly, there were just 577 positive cases in October against 1,087 in September.
In August, 56,284 tests were conducted and 2,138 new cases were detected. Overall, during the last 6 months, the number of testing was least in October. The number of testing stood at 44,676 in May, 33,210 in June and 35,865 in July. At the height of the second wave, the number of cases reported was highest in May at 7,546, followed by 3,385 in June and 2,567 in July.
It, therefore, begs a very pertinent question—can the fall in positive cases be simply correlated with the State slowly overcoming the disease or the falling rate of testing?
Looking at the above figure, it can be inferred at face value, that while the rate of infection may be decreasing ‘naturally’ due to a combination of many factors, including vaccination, the impact of low testing cannot be ruled out. The September and October figures corroborate this assertion. Incidentally, with the testing mandate in place for the non-vaccinated as one condition for more relaxations, one expects an increase in testing and not a decline.
It was also reported that due to the financial crunch, the department is “not able to perform up to the mark in some areas,” which has affected the department to a great extent, and the department is running short of essential items pertaining to other medicinal items, as well as workforce shortages.
These issues are concerning on many levels. As the State announces more relaxations and plans to host its annual Hornbill Festival in a month's time, possibly bringing in more tourists from outside, the health department must not be left in a lurch but must be augmented adequately to deal with any eventuality.
With the possibility of a winter surge adding a new dimension, it is imperative that the State Government take stock of the situation immediately and act rapidly.
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