MARGAO
The reasons could be varied. Covid testing has not only come down at the testing centres in recent days, it has neither shown any perceptible increase in the number of cases in and around Salcete.
The situation has thrown up questions whether people prefer not to come out of their homes for Covid testing, as a result of which cases have not registered a major rise in Salcete, except in pockets of Margao and Fatorda.
The district hospital, which once conducted Covid tests in hundreds, between 500-800 a day, around two months ago, is today witnessing reduced number of testing. In fact, health officials pointed out that testing has come down to 200-250 on an average on any given day for the moment, indicating that the number of people opting for Covid testing has come down drastically.
The situation at the Primary Health Centres is no better. Sources at the Balli Primary Health centre, which once witnessed queues of people for testing, when Covid was at its peak around 2-3 months ago, has seen a drastic fall in Covid testing. If officials are to be believed, the number of people coming for testing has come down. This had a direct bearing on the number of Covid positive cases reported at the Health centre, which has a huge jurisdiction, including the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, which had played host to a number of Covid cases.
In fact, a glance at the statistics of the last three days shows that the number of cases were hovering around 62-71 for the moment.
Curtorim Primary Health Centre, which has jurisdiction over a couple of villages, including Curtorim and Davorlim, which were affected by Covid, also witnesses a similar situation. Cases are presently hovering around 69-76 case, indicating that positive cases have even come to a single digit figure on a given day.
Officials at the Curtorim PHC also conceded that Covid testing has also come down as compared to the initial days. “Whenever we come across cases, we try to get the people for testing through contact tracing. The number of people coming to the PHC voluntarily has come down”, officials said.
A glance at the statistics of the Covid cases at the Chinchinim Primary health centre showed that cases have remained static with around 32 on an average.
At the Loutolim Primary Health, the number of cases have not seen much increase, with the cases hovering around 60-64. Testing at the Loutolim PHC seemed to have not come down, but it has also not gone up, with the number of tests conducted at the centre put at less than 10 a day.
“Cases tested at the Loutolim PHC are mostly of contact tracing. There may be an odd case, voluntarily opting for Covid testing”, sources said.
The reduced number of testing at most of the centres seems to have come to haunt the health authorities. Senior officials are trying to figure out whether people are not motivated enough to come out for testing or whether people are content to take treatment at home without going for testing.
Sources said, this issue has been a subject of debate amongst senior health officials as the department is bracing up to launch an awareness campaign across the State on Covid and to motivate people to volunteer for testing.
