IT Desk
There is no imposition of mandatory Covid-19 testing without the conscience of the person. So far the government has not passed any law to make Covid testing mandatory for all but people are advice to test for Covid-19 as it is the only means to contain the spread of the pandemic. However, violators of the orders passed by district administrators as measures to stop the spreading of the virus are detained and tested for Covid-19.
The methodology used here as per the policy of those in the State health department will be effective or not, the law enforcers are order to detain the curfew violators and separated those tested positive with the Covid-19.
As for the law enforcers, it is their duty to follow the order, but whether this will help in curbing the spread is a matter even some in the law enforcers’ sectors with knowledge of psychology or medical stream are confusing.
As per information received at 2 pm today afternoon, as per the order of the district administration the Imphal East police team along with a team of the Chief medical officers of the Imphal East detained curfew violators and tested for Covid-19 at Sawombung Community Hall. As per report the police team under the supervision of the Additional SP Ravikumar Kshetrimayum (IPS) started checking the violators of the order of the district administration from 11 am. The team was cooperated by the volunteers of the Covid Taskforce of Sawombung, Pourabi and Pungdongbam. The report said that as many as 100 of the curfew violators were tested for Covid 19, among them 3 people – one each from Isisang, Sawombung and Pungdombam were tested Covid-19 positive.
The test was conducted using the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), the checking of curfew violators by the Police team needs appreciations from all quarters at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic and when the district administration is taking up measures to contain it by imposing a curfew. However, the way that the testing is conducted by the state health department is likely to sabotage the sincere effort of the police department.
Of the 100 persons who conducted Covid-19 testing using RAT only three are reported to be positive. But RAT’s result is not accurate and for those who appeared negative, they are advice for RTPCR testing. None of the samples of the persons who tested negative during the random testing were sent for RTPCR testing as of now, when there are possibilities of coronavirus being present to those persons whom they presumed negative with the virus after the RAT.
The police team who felt that those tested negative during the drive may feel free to talk with them. At the same time those violators of the district administration orders may also felt that they are corona free and may not take extra care while communicating or contacting with their near or dear ones or with friends. There are chances that those police personnel who are following orders with sincerity may fall in trouble due to the ridiculous policy of the health department.
Instead of the random testing with RAT only it is better left the matter with the law enforcers by either imposing huge fine or detained in quarantine center no matter he or she violating the order are found. Remember, during the first wave, it was mandatory for all those return from outside the state to quarantine for at least 14 days.
If there is a spike among the state police, who are frontline worriers, it should be the State Health Department authority that will be responsible.
