Not got a single rapid test kit from Centre yet: State govt

Pritesh Basu | MP | 18 April 2020 | Kolkata: Rapid tests to detect COVID-19 patients in Bengal are getting delayed as the Centre is yet to provide the necessary kits for the same. Amid stricter lockdown measures, with the state government ready with all the necessary infrastructure, this is definitely a deterrent to keep the pandemic in check.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sought 50,000 kits from the Centre to carry out rapid tests in Bengal. But not a single one has arrived yet.

Meanwhile, the state government has gone all-out to increase the capacity of undertaking more number of swab tests every day in each of the laboratories by ensuring work in double shifts.

This comes when the audit committee confirmed that death of two more persons in the state was due to COVID-19, taking the total death toll to 12. At present, 178 people are suffering from the disease in the state and 4,630 tests have been carried out till date.

While addressing the media at Nabanna on Saturday, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said: "We have asked for kits just because we are ready with the necessary infrastructure to carry out rapid tests. The same will be carried out wherever needed, especially in the containment areas, as soon as we get the kits. We have not received a single kit yet."

While speaking about tests being carried out at eight laboratories in the state, Sinha further added that it is incorrect if anyone claims that it can conduct 500 or 100 tests a day. "Even big laboratories, including the ones in SSKM, NICED or North Bengal Medical College and Hospital can test a maximum of 100 samples per day," he said.

Sinha held a video conference with principals of all the medical colleges, Health department officials and CMOH of all districts on Saturday. He urged the concerned officials to look into the feasibility to carry out work in double shifts in the laboratories so that more number of tests can be done in a day. "We have also sought clearances from the ICMR to set up laboratories in Murshidabad, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and Bankura Medical College and Hospital. The laboratory at Malda will start functioning from Sunday," the Chief Secretary said, adding that setting up of the laboratories will ensure faster results which will prove very crucial in terms of containing the disease as early detection enables proper treatment of a patient.

Assuring that there is all preparedness to fight the disease in the state, he said there are no positive cases in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, East Midnapore, Nadia and North 24-Parganas for the past few days. It shows that the containment measures have borne results. Strict containment measures are being undertaken in Kolkata, Howrah, East Midnapore and North 24-Parganas which will continue for the next 14 days. Stating that the situation is constantly changing, he maintained that even a few days ago Kolkata and the North 24-Parganas were not in the picture.

Home delivery of essentials have been ensured at the containment areas where physical barricading is being done. Special team of police and civic officials are monitoring the same. A senior official of the local civic body has been deployed to ensure proper implementation of micro-planning.

While speaking about Howrah, he said 580 tests have been carried out and 62 of them have tested positive, comprising around 10 percent of the total samples tested. Similarly, 18 tested positive in East Midnapore where total 300 tests were undertaken.

"As on today (Saturday), we have 1500 ventilators in the state but only 10 have been used so far. We have 7,969 beds in 66 COVID-19 hospitals while only 178 are occupied," he added.

(Courtesy, source and link- Millenium Post- http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/not-got-a-single-rapid-test-kit-from-centre-yet-state-govt-407511)