Sir,

Apropos the letter in SOM dated May 17 by Dr. P.V. Ravindra, I wish to understand from those concerned regarding the humongous volume of testing for Covid-19 being carried out throughout the nation.

After testing negative by this test once by any person, for how long duration is the negative test result to be taken for granted? If such a person gets infected after testing, but remains asymptomatic and hence does not get tested again for a long time, how is the control on spreading achieved?

For international travel, it was mandatory to get negative report of testing not earlier than 72 hours before arrival at the destination to pass through immigration without a testing on arrival and consequent procedures. Does it then mean that the negative report stays good only for 72 hours?

Added to the above issue is the efficacy of RT-PCR test being at about 70%. This means 30% of test results could be wrong. A person testing false negative, that is, he / she may be infected but not detected by the test, may be left roaming asymptomatic thus spreading the virus, if distancing is not observed.

Should the Government fix up a frequency of re-testing for everyone so as to have a good control on the disease? At present it is daunting to test everyone even once and compulsory testing of everyone is not even legal but only voluntary. In such a situation what are the alternatives to ensure better control on the spreading of the disease?

– Prof. B.S. Shankara (retd.), Ramakrishnanagar, 19.5.2021

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