It is imperative that testing is extended to the community at large. The British government was totally at variance in stopping testing, in the first place. WHO recommendations amplified by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghrebreyesus, whose mantra was “Test Test Test “, likened the position the Government took to “fighting a fire blindfold”, or as Prof. Gabriel Scally stated on BBC Radio – “letting it rip”.
The absolute tenants of modern epidemiology are absolutely clear, in that gathering the evidence of spread by testing, then contact tracing and subsequent isolation are the gold standards in fighting an epidemic, never mind the worldwide pandemic we are facing now. Doing any less borders on the irresponsible.
In countries who have employed rapid and widespread testing, we have already seen a marked reduction in the number of cases. North Korea and Germany are forging ahead in this regard. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Heisn Loong interviewed in CNN outlined how these lessons had been learnt in the SARS outbreak. They were prepared for rapid testing and intervention which has suppressed the number of cases and resulted in only 3 deaths to date. A country of 5.6million, 300, 000 tests by 21th March, 1 In 19 of the population tested. Germany began testing in January!
The HSC in Northern Ireland is a separate entity. The Department of Health can make independent decisions and failure to implement a rapid widespread testing programme is untenable.
Twenty miles from Belfast we have companies Randox ( PCR ) and AMS labs – (antibody -testing) who are currently producing the test kits required to quantify the number of cases. The tools to tackle this outbreak are on our doorstep… action is required now.
Dr Kevin McFerran is a GP in Belfast
“State Public Health Laboratory in Exton Tests for COVID-19” by governortomwolf is licensed under CC BY
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