COVID-19 testing sluggish in Anantnag district

With population of a million and half, only 132 persons have been tested for COVID-19 in southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district so far.

Among them only one person from the CheckiWangund village of Qazigund area which, however, falls in medical jurisdiction Kulgam has tested positive.

“In the first three weeks,samples of mere four COVID-19 probables were taken,” the data reveals.

This week, however, around128 samples from the district, it says were taken for testing.

“30 samples were taken fortesting today,” a doctor said.

He, however, said the rateis still sluggish.

“It should be at least 150persons per day,” said another doctor.

GMC Anantnag has beendesignated as a collection center for Anantnag district from where the samplesare sent to virology laboratory SKIMS.

Around, 40 samples fromKulgam were also taken from here even as the district is also directly sendingsamples to GMC Srinagar.

Further, samples of  ten probable patients from Shopian six of whotested positive were also taken from Anantnag.

The district has Pulwamahospital as the designated collection center. Another doctor said, the pace oftesting is a bit on higher side if not up to the mark  inKulgam wherein three have turned positive sofar.

Around 103 samples havebeen collected for testing in Kulgam having a population of around over half amillion,” he said.

A senior doctor  working in Anantnag attributed the slowtesting to the absence of VTMs.

“The health department hasfailed to provide requisite VTMs to GMC Anantnag, which has hampered the paceof testing here,” he said.

The doctor said, the paceof testing is comparatively better in Pulwama and Shopian district as well asGMC Baramula and other north and central Kashmir districts. Principal  GMCAnantnagDrShowkatJeelani, alsoacknowledged that they received less testing kits from the health department.

“Whatever, kits we receivedwas from Medical Supplies Corporation, private vendors and SKIMS,” he said.

He sought more VTMS from thehealth department.

However, Chief MedicalOfficer (CMO) Anantnag said the tests are being now done according to the freshguidelines.

“Earlier we were supposed to take samples of symptomatic patients only. Now, this week we started collecting the same from asymptotic ones with a travel history and contact persons also,” he said.

Asked why other districtseven with less population were testing more people, CMO said, Anantnag has lessnumber of red zones so the testing was done accordingly.