Efficient surveillance key to check COVID pandemic: TIGS director

Testing those with COVID symptoms and random testing should be stepped up: Rakesh Mishra

Efficient surveillance that includes more testing and sewage surveillance is the key to control the current COVID situation. Testing those with obvious COVID symptoms and random testing in offices, educational institutions and gatherings should be stepped up for quickly identifying COVID positive patients and isolating them to arrest the virus spread, said Tata Institute for Genetics & 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 5-6 days in advance for the authorities concerned to act and take precautionary measures, he said on Friday.