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Sharp decline in Covid testing puts question on actual count
With most of the restrictions lifted in cities like Bengaluru, which is home to nearly a quarter of the state’s over 70 million population, markets and other areas have been operating with heavy footfalls in recently.
Since June, Karnataka has seen a sharp fluctuation in Covid-19 tests conducted across the state, as per government data, thereby indicating if the stabilising number of new infections reflects the actual ground reality of the situation in the southern state.
In the first three weeks of August, Karnataka conducted 2,682,882 Covid-19 (RT-PCR & RAT) tests across all districts of the state, as against a declining trend of 4,379,771 in July that was lower than 4,532,767 in June, according to the state health department.
“You can test only the contacts, the symptomatic and a certain percentage of random (population),” Dr Arundhathi Chandrasekhar, the mission director of the National Health Mission said on Wednesday.
She said that since the cases were low, the number of contacts will also come down, resulting in possible less number of tests.
However, she said that barring Monday and Tuesday, Karnataka has been testing around 105,000 to 106,000 per day. “Random testing accounts for 20-30%,” she added.
With most of the restrictions lifted in cities like Bengaluru, which is home to nearly a quarter of the state’s over 70 million population, markets and other areas have been operating with heavy footfalls in recently.
Most of the testing, around 50,000 to 60,000 are being conducted in Bengaluru alone, data shows, which raises the possibility that there could be lower testing numbers in other districts.
For instance, there were just 439 tests conducted in Bagalkote district as against 66,289 in Bengaluru on August 16, according to the state Covid-19 war room data. On the same day, there were just 7,575 tests done in Dakshina Kannada district which has just as many, if not more cases than Bengaluru and is among the highest contributors of new infections in the southern state.
To make matters worse, the state government and law enforcement officials have unearthed a few rackets of issuing fake Covid-19 certificates for a bribe, adding to the challenges in the containing of the virus.
Chandrashekar said that the government is currently discussing increasing testing in the state and is expected to take a decision on it in the next couple of days.
However, free movement of people and gathering of large crowds, some by eminent political leaders, have become a huge cause for concern.
Siddaramaiah, the Congress’ leader of the opposition, was welcomed by hundreds and thousands of people in Raichur on Tuesday. A day earlier, Siddaramaiah attended an event in Vijayanagar locality in Bengaluru, which was attended by a large number of people, ironically to distribute Covid-19 relief material.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers and legislators too have been part of huge crowds and gatherings, adding to the problems of a state that has been recently hit with droughts, floods and is staring at the resurgence of the pandemic.
The upcoming festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Varamahalaxmi Puja, Muharram and Durga Puja among others only add to the challenges,
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday said that it will take all possible steps to prevent crowding in market areas before the festivals.
“We will take all possible steps to promote Covid appropriate behaviour. BBMP health officers must raise awareness regarding Covid preventive measures issued by headquarters amongst public and vendors on the previous day and on the day of the festival via loud speakers,” the BBMP said in a statement.
“A fine of ₹250 per person will be imposed on public and merchants for not wearing masks at major market areas in BBMP limits,” it added.
“No matter what festivals are coming up, they should be celebrated in a cautious manner,” Gaurav Gupta, the chief commissioner of the BBMP said on Wednesday.
