| Covid-19: J&K leads in testing, conducts almost 3700 tests a day | | | 
Ravinder Pal Singh
Aggressive testing bedrock of COVID-19 containment strategy
Pandemics have been threatening civilization since time immemorial, and the COVID-19 virus spread has been a most recent manifestation of the same. The lives of people across the world are at stake. The virus has transcended geographical boundaries and governments world over have engaged all their resources in fighting this pandemic. Lockdowns, social distancing, and suspension of global air travel are few steps taken by the countries to contain the spread of the virus.
The government in our country, too, has indulged in massive information campaigns and focused on stay home directives, and J&K has been a leader in a way that it had announced curtailment of public gatherings much earlier than the announcement of country-wide lockdown. Issuance of timely advisories, guidelines, and technological interventions has helped substantially in easing the disruption. Implementation of social distancing norms and robust contact tracing has been imperative in the containment of the outbreak of this virus. As per government sources, J&K now boasts of the second-highest testing rate in the entire nation, second only to Delhi. While in Delhi, 5027 tests have been done in a single day, J&K is conducting almost 3700 Corona virus tests daily, and this indeed is commendable.
New BSL-3 compliant testing laboratories have been established both at Jammu and Srinagar. Aggressive contact tracing and testing have been undertaken. Several districts like Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, and Pulwama achieved the status of green zones, and other Districts like Reasi, Kathua, Ramban have been COVID-free for most of the lockdown. Jammu district remained COVID free for a while, and the cases have flared up only after the government has undertaken a massive evacuation mission of its stranded residents from across the country. Almost 50000 stranded residents have been brought back, and 100% of them have been tested for COVID-19. The whole effort has been a collective one, and the general public has unwaveringly stood by the government in its fight to eliminate COVID-19 from the Union Territory.
Due to an effective curb on the spread of COVID-19 by the administration, there is a sense of confidence among people, which is unprecedented. Though, this sense of confidence and trust in government has inadvertently lead to the lowering of guard by some people who have become complacent and oblivious to the constant threat posed by the virus.
It is time to acknowledge that the virus is out there waiting for an opportunity to strike a fatal blow. We, the people of J&K, have to prepare ourselves for a long fight against Covid-19. The fight dwells upon the collective will, patience, and perseverance of our society, and in the run-up to it, we should not ever let our guard down. We must strive to be and be honest in our approach to support the administration and win this war. |
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