With population of a million and half, only 132 persons have been tested for COVID-19 in southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district so far. Among them only one person from the CheckiWangund village of Qazigund area which, however, falls in medical jurisdiction Kulgam has tested positive. “In the first three weeks, samples of mere four COVID-19 probables were taken,” the data reveals. This week, however, around 128 samples from the district, it says were taken for testing. “30 samples were taken for testing today,” a doctor said. He, however, said the rate is still sluggish.“It should be at least 150 persons per day,” said another doctor.GMC Anantnag has been designated as a collection center for Anantnag district from where the samples are sent to virology laboratory SKIMS.Around, 40 samples from Kulgam were also taken from here even as the district is also directly sending samples to GMC Srinagar.Further, samples of ten probable patients from Shopian six of who tested positive were also taken from Anantnag.The district has Pulwama hospital as the designated collection center. Another doctor said, the pace of testing is a bit on higher side if not up to the mark inKulgam wherein three have turned positive so far.Around 103 samples have been collected for testing in Kulgam having a population of around over half a million,” he said.A senior doctor working in Anantnag attributed the slow testing to the absence of VTMs.“The health department has failed to provide requisite VTMs to GMC Anantnag, which has hampered the pace of testing here,” he said.The doctor said, the pace of testing is comparatively better in Pulwama and Shopian district as well as GMC Baramula and other north and central Kashmir districts. Principal GMCAnantnagDrShowkatJeelani, also acknowledged that they received less testing kits from the health department.“Whatever, kits we received was from Medical Supplies Corporation, private vendors and SKIMS,” he said.He sought more VTMS from the health department.However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag said the tests are being now done according to the fresh guidelines.“Earlier we were supposed to take samples of symptomatic patients only. Now, this week we started collecting the same from asymptotic ones with a travel history and contact persons also,” he said.
