COVID-19: Antigen test results not considered as valid by Konkan officials, demand RT-PCR test findings

COVID-19: Antigen test results not considered as valid by Konkan officials, demand RT-PCR test findings

Pune: Konkan health and local administration officials are rejecting antigen test results of people returning from Goa, Pune and Mumbai. As a result, several such people will have to be quarantined for 10 to 14 days instead of the discounted 3 days period and they will miss out of the first few days of the Ganeshotsav.

For those coming to their native places in Konkan from Pune, Mumbai, Goa and other places for Ganeshotsav after August 12, a medical certificate mentioning negatively tested for Covid-19 in the last 48 hours before the journey has been made mandatory. However, if no symptoms are seen, RT PCR testing is not done in government and private laboratories in Goa.

The RT-PCR test is considered to be reliable as against the antigen test. However, laboratories in Goa do not conduct RT-PCR tests on young people who do not have any symptoms. Antigen testing is accepted in Goa, but it is not accepted in Sindhudurg, so the people coming from Goa to the district are stuck in a dilemma.

The youth of Ghotgewadi area was affected by it on Thursday. They were given ten days quarantine instructions instead of three days by the administration which refused to validate the antigen test they performed. Therefore, they will not be able to celebrate the first day of Ganeshotsav. Besides, those who will come hereafter will not be able to celebrate Ganeshotsav if they do not have the RT-PCR test report.

Bhagwan Gavas, Deputy Chief of Yuvasena and Sagar Karpe, Chief of Ghotgewadi Shiv Sena Shakha has said, “Young men and women who had gone to Goa to earn their livelihoods can’t stay in quarantine for ten or 14 days. It is not financially feasible for them to stay in quarantine after returning to the village. They will not get any such leave from their companies and maybe they will have to give up their job. Therefore, the Sindhudurg administration should accept the report of the antigen tests and keep the period for quarantine of only three days.”

Ramesh Kartaskar, Tehsil Health Officer of Dodamarg said, “According to the government rule, the RT-PCR test report is mandatory to be submitted by citizens for availing the three days quarantine facility. If the report of the antigen test is produced then the concerned person will have to stay in quarantine for ten days.”

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