Increasing testing facilities can curb COVID-19: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

In a letter written to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Vadra said, "The Coronavirus is spreading in UP like other states. Today, it is a big challenge in front of our health system as to how we identify the infected individuals so that the infection is stopped from spreading further."

She said that increasing the number of screenings and testing to control the spread of the virus is a very effective way to prevent it. South Korea, with a population of 6 crore, tested about six people for every 1000 people and has succeeded in preventing virus infection. Work was done on a war footing in Bhilwara, Rajasthan and within nine days, over 24 lakh people were screened and more and more people were identified.

Vadra said that UP has a population of about 23 crore, whereas the number of samples taken for testing is only around 7000 which is very less for now. It is necessary to speed up the testing. Increasing the number of testing in Uttar Pradesh can prove to be a panacea.

Extending a suggestion in the letter, Ms Vadra said, "We have to examine as many people as we can and provide them treatment them with on a war-footing so that our ICUs are put under minimal pressure. "Also, our isolation wards and quarantine centers will have to be tailored according to human dignity."

The Congress General Secretary expressed concern that the news of quarantine centers being in a bad condition was coming from various places in the state. The arrangements for food and cleanliness are not fit in several places. The government should take this into cognisance and organise the same. Poor families should be given food, ration allowance at such centers so that they feel less anxious about their family members.

Vadra stated that reports of infection at the social level have started coming in India. It is seen that the infection is spreading more in those city clusters, which are densely populated. There are many reports that infected persons are also trying to hide their disease. Somehow, this is happening due to the prevailing fears about the Coronavirus.

Therefore, it is important that proper information is provided on a war footing, especially in these clusters, and the spread of rumors should be stopped immediately, she added.

She said that since there is an increased need to wear masks, distribution of masks and sanitisers should be ensured on a war footing and people should be told as to where and how they can get masks and sanitisers.