Test, test, test” was a valid mantra in the early stages of COVID, but two years into this viral pandemic, let’s accept that such a thing as over-testing exists. As Omicron goes off its hook, India’s official The 7-day moving average of daily infections exceeded 170,000 this week, but unlike last year’s delta crisis, our healthcare system hasn’t been jammed with patients. Although the low virulence of the major bug of this wave has led to safety protocols being tightened. As cases rise, we face a peculiar reversal: our health risks have dwindled compared to the 2021 delta spike, but in many settings Covid Barriers have indeed increased. From private establishments to housing blocks, negative test results have been sought for entry, often in addition to proof of vaccination, which theft of the latest version’s antibodies is considered void. Test kits no longer scarce However, the home packs are now available on retail shelves. But it’s not hard to detect a delta-scarred psyche when playing in some of this extra hardness. Indeed, to the extent that enthusiasm has outpaced discretion, there is a need to rationalize the testing mandate at different levels.
It would be helpful to take a look at this week’s revised advisory on COVID testing issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Certainly, there was a time when the state administration was accused of trying to suppress numbers by being slow in tests. Also, for surveillance purposes, we should expand testing coverage in hotspots, as long as the ‘positivity’ ratio seen in additional results is high and rising, as seen in many cities. But the ICMR has relaxed its advice that everyone needs testing, and in welcome ways. Inter-state domestic travel should not require mandatory testing, it said. Nor should medical intervention be prevented by trial approval. However, the head-turner of ICMR was its advocate that contacts of confirmed cases should not be tested unless they are at high risk due to their age or co-morbidities. This effectively took off contact-tracing, the value of which crashed after our community spread began. With omicrons highly contagious, airborne, and probably all around us, our exposure has become relatively random. In this stage of the third wave, there are many virus-carriers who show no symptoms and are not aware of their condition. And false negative results can also show up with rapid antigen tests (such as self-test kits), which are largely designed to screen rather than confirm cases. This means that the chances of catching it going about our daily routines are much less now than with ‘contact’ with someone found positive. Thus, India’s testing capacity would be best directed towards early detection of cases that carry the risk of becoming morbid. While vaccines help prevent the dreaded COVID choking and most of our adults have taken both doses, anyone who develops the stated symptoms of COVID should definitely get a test.
Voluntary demand for tests, however, differs from the forced type. According to the Centre’s calculations, about 1.8 million of them are being conducted daily, and unrestricted self-tests could mean that the actual figure is bigger, but we still don’t know how many of these are for gate passes. Huh. Given the prevailing social hierarchy, it is a fair bet that the heavy burden of access-testing is borne by those who can least afford it. Free trials also exist, no doubt, but these features are often too crowded for comfort. Yes, private employers and other entities have the right to set their own safety rules. But there is no need to overdo it.
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