HC wants WB govt to look into need for raising COVID-19 tests on war footing
Hearing a PIL in connection with the situation in WestBengal over the COVID-19 pandemic spread, a division benchcomprising Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan and JusticeArijit Banerjee directed the state government to report to iton the acceleration of the rate of sample collection andtesting in adherence to the ICMR testing protocol and WHOguidelines.
"We are of the view that it is necessary that theofficial respondents (West Bengal government) give a deeperlook to the requirement of more number of samples beingcollected and subjected to tests on war footing," thedivision bench said.
In a report placed before the high court on Friday asper its direction, the state health secretary said that as thenumber of testing laboratories in West Bengal increased, therehas been a steady rise in the number of tests being conducted.
The bench noted that neither the report indicates, northe petitioner claims that there has been any community spreadof the disease in the state, observing that such spread of thevirus "has to be prevented at all costs."
The report stated that this figure is expected toincrease in the days ahead.
On allegations made by senior counsel Bikash RanjanBhattacharya, representing the petitioner, about the manner ofcertification and the auditing of the reason for death beforeissuing the death certificate, the court said that it expectsthe government to place their response in this regard with theviews of the health personnel concerned.
The report placed by the health secretary said thatthere are seven testing laboratories - five government and twoprivate - for sample testing for the virus and that there areseveral more which are in the process of being developed.
The report said that currently, as a result of therise in the number of ICMR-approved laboratories in the statefrom one to seven, more than 300 samples are being testeddaily and that "this figure is expected to increase in thedays ahead.
The state was also asked to place a report on thepetitioner's allegation that there is deficit in facilitiesfor the protection and safety of doctors, nurses, paramedicalpersons and other health service-oriented persons coming intoregular close contact with COVID-19 patients and with thosesuspected to have contracted the disease.
The state was also directed to file its response onwhether WHO (World Health Organisation) and ICMR (IndianCouncil of Medical Research) guidelines and advisories arebeing followed by all stakeholders, including the stateadministration.
The report by the state government said that it hasissued an advisory on April 13 in which all symptomaticcontacts, whether primary or secondary, and all asymptomaticprimary contacts of COVID-19 positive patient, have beenadvised to be tested as per ICMR guidelines.
The report placed by the state Health secretary deniedalleged deficiency in the supply of personal protectiveequipment (PPEs).
"As of April 16, a total of 2,58,805 PPEs, 1,52,460N95 masks, 4,53,775 two-layered masks, 9,17,750 three-layered masks, 4,75,000 gloves and 53,769 litres of sanitizerhave been supplied to the health facilities in the state," thereport said.
The division bench directed the state government tofurnish the details and information asked for by it in theform of an affidavit by the next date of hearing, which itscheduled on April 23.
Senior counsel Bikash Bhattacharya, appearing forpetitioner Fuad Halim had on Thursday told the court that theguidelines issued by the WHO and the ICMR for tackling theissue of COVID-19 are not being adhered to by the state ofWest Bengal.