Government. Urged to ramp up testing to contain COVID
The AP Civil Liberties Association (APCLA) urged the Chief Secretary (Health) to impose restrictions on public gatherings, especially in parks and other recreational areas, to control the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak, and to issue guidelines on closed spaces that are prone to the spread of the disease are.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, APCLA General Secretary Fr Suresh Kumar said that district collectors and superintendents of the police were instructed to control the crowd in public spaces, but no specific guidelines were issued. As a result, people gathered in large numbers for birthdays and various events.
Large gatherings of this type are at risk of the rapid spread of COVID-19, he said.
Mr Suresh Kumar suggested that the Chief Secretary increase the number of RTPCR tests to determine the extent of the prevalence of COVID-19.
With COVID-19 patients previously showing unknown symptoms and many others being asymptomatic, the number of tests should be increased, he said, urging the government to make vaccines available in adequate quantities to combat the pandemic.