Agartala: With the report of high rate of infection in a few particular locations of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area, West Tripura district administration has begun intensive antigen test of Covid-19 in makeshift camps of five wards from today to ascertain the intensity of infection and subsequent action plan to contain the spread.
The officials stated that there was no en-mass testing of Covid during the second wave rather priority has been given to mass vaccination. The intending travellers have been coming for Covid testing and the people having symptoms are going for testing besides hospital admission. As a result, the detection of positive cases was unorganised and insufficient.
However, based on the data of positive cases found last week, the administration has decided to go for intensive Covid test in AMC Ward No, 5, 12, 21, 45 and 46 to ascertain the level of infection and devise the strategy to manage the situation. The health officials said along with the vaccination drive, massive antigen tests would be carried out in the locations where local clubs, NGOs and political leaders were asked to bring people for testing as much as possible.
“There is no plan as such to declare a micro-containment zone in the city, as the data available of Covid positive cases with the administration are not enough to go for containment now. Moreover, the infection rate is much higher in Agartala this time than other parts of the state and a significant number of positive patients have administered the first dose of vaccine and either has travel history or come into contact with a positive person,” said a senior officer of state administration.
He mentioned that the recovery rate in Tripura is over 92 per cent while the positivity rate is around five per cent and fatality rate is below two per cent, which shows the Covid situation in the state is much better than any other states of the country. However, the government is planning to be stricter about compliance with Covid protocol and entry from other parts of the country besides, massive vaccination and testing drive.
As of now, 408 people have died of Coronavirus infection and active Covid cases are only 2600, he added.
Meanwhile, hearing a suo-moto case taken for last year on the media reports about serious mismanagement in Covid situation, the division bench of the high court of Tripura comprising of Chief Justice A A Kureshi and Justice S Talapatra today sought some clarifications from the state before next hearing of the case fixed on May 17 next.
The court wanted to know whether there is any scientific model available with the state, based on which government can project the requirement of hospital beds with a break up of those required with oxygen and without oxygen and other amenities and medicines in the peak period of infection. What is the arrangement of paediatric care if Covid infection hits the children in the coming days?
