Coimbatore: Citing that COVID tests done in the district are disproportionate to the population, DMK MLA N.Karthik has urged the District Administration to ramp up the tests.
Coimbatore: Citing that COVID tests done in the district are disproportionate to the population, DMK MLA N.Karthik has urged the District Administration to ramp up the tests.
The MLA pointed that only 22,872 tests have been done so far in the district which has a population close to 50 lakhs. Recalling WHO's advise to the countries to increase COVID tests to rule out positive cases and isolating them, the MLA said low testing in Coimbatore district could lead to an unprecedented increase in cases in the upcoming days.
Alleging that right from the beginning of COVID saga in March, the State government has lacked transparency in apprising the actual numbers related to COVID. He said that the testing numbers have now come to light only after DMK and other political parties pressurised the government to release the data.
"As per the reports, 22,872 people have been subjected to COVID testing in the district of Coimbatore. At the national level, 539 tests per 10 lakh people is been carried out. To the contrary, less than 100 tests are conducted in Coimbatore district", the MLA accused.
He questioned if the TN government is trying to portray an impression to people that TN is out of the pandemic by reducing the number of tests. "Any attempt of that sort is suicidal", he added.
The sudden spike in cases in Coimbatore City is not only alarming but warrants more testing. "Only by testing will we be able to ascertain asymptomatic patients and advise them to isolate at home. If they are not identified, there are high chances that the vulnerable including senior citizens, children, pregnant women and those with other health issues may get infected with COVID-19", he warned.
"Even more worrying is the asymptomatic patients travelling to rural areas and causing widespread infection. If such a circumstance arises, health care facilities will be thronged by people for treatment, thus leading to mayhem. Does the government has enough suits, gloves, and ventilators available at its medical care facilities to accommodate and treat such a large number of patients?", the MLA questioned.
It is time the Coimbatore district administration got preventative and escalated the COVID testing numbers. A swift plan using the statistics should be arrived to control the spread and prevent an outbreak. A 24-hour helpline should be announced to enable the public to have access to COVID information, the MLA suggested.