Wisdom is in supporting govt in its Covid work

This picture has been used for representational purpose

With the test positivity rate (TPR) hovering at 1 per cent and the threat of the third wave looming, the BMC has planned to set up Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) desks in malls, at railway stations and other crowded public facilities, a report stated in this paper. A top official was quoted as saying that the idea was to detect asymptomatic patients at an early stage. This was of course to stop transmission but also to understand the pattern of the spread of the infection. Ward officials had been asked to identify spots in their respective wards where RAT desks were to be set up.

We need to up testing whether it is RAT or RT-PCR. Today, the accent is on upping Covid vaccine shots as it should be but let us not forget, too, that testing is a vital part of the arsenal in the war against Covid.

In Mumbai, testing is standing at around 40,000 a day, approximately. We need to double that to 80,000 say experts. So, whether RT-PCR or RAT to begin with at public places, it is good that we are now looking at upping testing.

This RAT idea is good but implementation needs to be spot on. The officials need to be quick in identifying areas. Then one should have well-equipped desks, manned by adequate, knowledgeable personnel, top-notch hygienic conditions so that this idea takes off in a smooth manner, inspiring confidence in the people.

The public, too, has a role to play. They must co-operate for these tests. Instead of trying to slink past these desks, or argue and waste time with personnel at these desks. Many a time, we have seen full-blown fights at such facilities, so a great deal of thought and careful groundwork is in order to make RAT public tests a project that truly works.