Agartala, Sep 27 (UNI) Tripura government has withdrawn the decision of mandatory Covid testing of all passengers entering the state through airport and railway stations following improvement of Covid infection rate and recovery rate of the patients.
Director of health services Dr Subasish Debbarma said that the number of corona victims has been low among the passengers arriving in the state through the airport and Agartala railway station in the last few days. Based on which, the state government has decided that only those who have symmetry in their body will give samples for corona test at the airport and railway stations. However, thermal screening will remain operational. As a result, from today sample collection in airport and railways stations has been stopped.
However, the reason of sudden suspension of Covid test for the passengers coming from outside has not been detailed in the government order but sources in the health department indicated that there is shortage of testing kits and recently ICMR stopped free supplying of testing kits.
Meanwhile, opposition congress and CPI (M) have criticized the government for stopping the Covid testing of outsiders coming in and apprehended that it would again spread the disease at community level. The former health minister Badal Choudhury alleged that the corona transmission in the state occurred because of the decision of the state government to test one passenger among every five at the airport and railway station.
Additional Chief Secretary holding the charge of health S K Rakesh, however, stated that they have begun implementing the recommendations to plug the loopholes that the three members’ central expert committee pointed out and added, “In its report, the team made many recommendations and suggestions to improve Covid-19 management in the state. We are also studying the proposals but many of those need funding.”
According to government reports, Tripura topped the death rate among the eight north-eastern states with 1.09 per cent while the positivity rate is recorded at 6.45 per cent. The report said that there was no death audit review committee and each death must be analyzed for modifiable and unmodifiable causes.
