Fewer Covid cases due to people avoiding tests, say experts

It is better to get tested whenever you show Covid-19 symptoms. This will help in proper medication, isolation and also check infection spread, they said

The downturn in Covid-19 cases may be linked to people who are avoiding tests despite having mild symptoms, experts have said.

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Many people are avoiding tests on having mild symptoms but experts said that getting tests done and following Covid-19 protocol is necessary to ensure that an infected person does not spread infection further.

“Tests have considerably gone down. On getting symptoms, people self-medicate but this is not correct,” said Dr PK Gupta, a microbiologist and former president Indian Medical Association, Lucknow.

Sharing a case, Dr Gupta said, “A patient came for a test when he had to travel. He said he needed a test certificate for travel. He tested positive and upon further query he said that he had mild symptoms and was staying at home. He came for a test only because he had to travel.”

“If you have mild symptoms and you stay with family, you may actually be a spreader for them (family members). So it is better to get tested whenever you show Covid-19 symptoms. This will help in proper medication, isolation and also check infection spread,” said Dr Rama Srivastava.