Covid-19 Tests: People being turned away in Pabna

While Covid-19 cases continue to pile up in the districts as well as in cities, detection of Covid-19 has actually deteriorated in Pabna due to low testing since the first week of July.

Local health officials said they are discouraging patients with no or minimal symptoms from getting tested as well as refusing Covid-19 patients from getting retested to see whether they are virus-free.

Locals say they were refused outright or discouraged from testing if they are not presenting severe symptoms -- leading to uncertainty over their status, late results, and possible under reporting of cases in the district.

An 80-year old woman living on Nimtola road in Pabna town received her positive test results on July 5, after her samples were taken on June 14.

Her house was locked down and she was in isolation, said her son, but even though she is now feeling better she hasn't been able to get tested again to see if she is fully recovered.

"We are trying to get her tested again but the health department is not interested in testing her again," said her son, a retired college teacher, who did not want to be named.

Without the test, they are not sure if she is virus-free. At the same time, the local administration has not removed their home from lockdown causing trouble in resuming their daily activities, he added.

Pabna civil surgeon Mehedi Iqbal told The Daily Star that Covid-19 patients do not need a further test.

"From July 1, we aren't going for a second test of Covid-19 patients. After detecting the disease, the affected patient will be in isolation for 14 days; later, he or she will be kept seven more days in home quarantine. If there is no problem, there is no need for a second test," Mehedi said.

They are also discouraging patients with no or minimal symptoms from getting tested, he added.

"Many people often come to test for trivial reasons and no symptoms. Now, we are only taking samples of those who have severe symptoms of the disease."

These measures are being taken to avoid pressure on the testing lab at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where all samples collected from Pabna district are sent, he said.

Due to the test fee now imposed at public facilities by the government since late June and late results, fewer people are also coming to get tested -- resulting in a lower number of new cases identified, Mehedi added.

A total of 627 Covid-19 patients have been identified in the district -- 548 of whom were detected in June alone -- as of July 16, said Dr Abdur Rahim, Covid-19 control room in-charge of the Pabna civil surgeon's office.

A total of 7,040 samples have been collected in the district till July 16. Of these, 6,530 samples were collected up till June -- meaning just 510 samples have been tested in the first half of this month.

Late reports; no option but to test elsewhere

An elderly villager from Ekdanta union in Atghoria upazila, suffering from fever and respiratory problems, gave his samples at Pabna Medical College Hospital on June 28. He is yet to receive his report.

"My father is well now but he is still staying inside as he does not know his test results while local people and our relatives are worried about him still being infectious," his son said to this correspondent.

A local photographer in Pabna town, who was suffering from a urological disease and needed immediate surgery, was told he needed to provide a negative Covid-19 report. Failing to get tested in Pabna, he had to go to neighbouring Kushtia and undergo testing there.

"Hiding my identity and using a fake address, I got tested in a Kushtia lab with the help of my senior colleagues. Now, I am going to Dhaka with my negative Covid-19 report for surgery," he said.

PCR labs in district on cards

Three PCR machines are likely to be set up in Pabna, according to the health department, though no concrete steps have yet been taken in this regard.

"The science and technology ministry has already allotted two PCR machines under the management of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant [in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila] while the health ministry has decided to set another lab in Pabna," said Dr Mehedi, also the secretary of the district Covid-19 management committee.

Two labs will be set up at the Pabna Medical College Hospital premises and another at the Pabna University of Science and Technology premises. However, a date has not yet been fixed for when these will be operational, he added.