‘Even if the test is negative, people should isolate until the symptoms are over’
Srinagar: Like the rest of the world, Kashmir is battling the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this time it is better off with the knowledge of the disease and the infrastructure required to deal with it. Yet, what is complicating the situation is the large number of people who have similar symptoms, such as cold, fever, sore throat and body aches, but who have not tested positive for COVID.
These days there will probably not be a single house in the Kashmir Valley where people do not have symptoms of fever, body aches, chills, sore throat and cough, similar to those of COVID. But whether it is actually covid or normal flu, this uncertainty is troubling people.
Doctors say that people with such symptoms should consider themselves to be Kovid positive, isolate, consult a doctor and start medicine if needed. Dr Mohd Salim Khan, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, told Kashmir Reader, “The penetration of cases in the population is such that almost everyone is Covid positive. Therefore, if a person has the flu, he or she should be isolated and tested for COVID. If he tests positive, a doctor should be consulted. Even if a negative report comes, they should be isolated for seven days till the flu is over. The reason is simple: sometimes due to technical issues, a person, despite being positive, tests negative. ,
This false test reporting usually occurs when a person goes in for a test before the incubation period of the virus has started. Another reason could be that the sample taken was not sufficient to detect the virus. In both such cases, even if the tests come out as negative, the person may still have the infection and spread it.
“And there are some cases when the person is infected but is asymptomatic. So, the better option is to isolate,” said Dr Khan.
On Tuesday, over 4,000 fresh Covid cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, of which over 3,000 were from the Kashmir division. At the peak of the second Covid wave in Kashmir, the highest number of daily cases stood at around 3,500. Experts have predicted that the cases will increase five times more than the second wave.
Principal SKIMS Bemina Dr Irfan Robani, who is recovering from COVID-19, told Kashmir Reader that people should get tested immediately if they have symptoms. He said that if the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) shows him positive, then he does not need to get tested again.
Khan advised people to stay at home and step out only in case of emergency. “They should cancel all social events, wear masks when going out, maintain distance and hygiene,” he said.
