Efficient surveillance is key to keep control on the pandemic, says Rakesh Mishra

Mr. Mishra also suggested that governments should also invest in sewage surveillance as it can give an early indication of any surge in cases five to six days in advance for the authorities concerned to act and take precautionary measures

Efficient surveillance which includes more testing and sewage surveillance is key to control the current COVID-19 pandemic. Testing - those with obvious COVID-19 symptoms- and random testing in offices, educational institutions and gatherings should be stepped up for quickly identifying COVID-19 positive persons and isolating them to arrest the virus spread, said Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) Director and scientist Rakesh Mishra.

Governments should also invest in sewage surveillance, which is pretty effective, unbiased and inexpensive, and can give an early indication of any surge in cases five to six days in advance for the authorities concerned to act and take precautionary measures, he said on Friday.

The former CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Director, involved in genome sequencing and testing protocols from the time the pandemic broke in March 2020 and continues to work in the institute here, cautioned that the "SARS-CoV-2 virus is still around and there is no reason to become complacent even as many activities have resumed".