No plans yet to ramp up Covid tests: Health dept

RANCHI/JAMSHEDPUR: A day after two Covid-19 cases were reported in East Singhbhum amid concerns over an emergence of a new Covid-19 variant, the state health department asked all the districts to maintain vigil. It is, however, yet to work out a special exercise to ramp up surveillance at key points such as airports, railway stations, picnic spots, among others, where there is a possibility of heavy footfall in view of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The district health department said it would conduct genome sequencing of the two Covid-19 positive samples. “We are in the process of conducting genome sequencing of the samples,” East Singbhum civil surgeon Dr Jujhar Majhi said, adding that both are doing fine and appealed to people to follow basic hygiene protocols and social distancing.

He said, “We have issued an appeal to the public through mass media for maintaining social distancing in public places and wearing masks in crowded places. This apart, we don’t have any specific directions yet for holding on-spot awareness campaign in public places.”

On ramping up testing at public places, the civil surgeon said, “At present, there’s no direction to conduct testing of the visitors arriving in the city from other states. The department is keeping an eye on the situation and will respond accordingly.”

In Ranchi, civic surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar spoke on similar lines. “As of now, we are planning to increase tests at sadar hospital on suspected cases, mainly of people suffering from influenza-related symptoms but there is no plan to target testing camps at any transit points,” he said.