Chandigarh residents face harrowing time to get themselves tested
Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 16
As the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing, people are facing a harrowing time in getting themselves and their family members tested for the virus whether it is in a private institute or a government health facility.
Vijay Juneja, a resident of 37, said, “I had visited the Sector 22 Civil Hospital for testing on August 17 after coming in contact with a Covid patient. I waited for two days for the report, but didn’t get any response. I then decided to visit the dispensary the next day to find out whether my samples had tested positive or not.”
Juneja said, “My neighbours went to the Sector 22 hospital for Covid testing a few days after they developed symptoms. They waited for three days for the reports to come. In the meantime, one of their family members developed breathing problems and died at the PGI.”
A 56-year-old man from Sector 38, who had tested positive recently, said, “I got my tests done from a hospital in Phase VI, Mohali, on September 10. The hospital authorities had informed the IDSP cell of the UT about my Covid status. I had then contacted the UT helpline number for the testing of my family members, but to my surprise, I was told to get their tests done by myself. It has been six days and no one has contacted me till now.”
The Central team has also suggested that families of positive cases should be contacted by doctors within 24 hours to segregate patients from their family members, who will be home isolated or shifted to Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCCC) or Dedicated Covid Care Centre (DCHC) or quarantine high-risk contacts with co-morbidities where strict isolation is not possible.
“I had waited for two days for the private lab to collect my samples from home as I was 38 weeks’ pregnant and had developed symptoms. After two days of repeated requests, I had to drive myself to the centre to give my sample,” said Akansha, a city resident.
A 30-year-old woman from the city said, “Recently, my sister had visited the GMCH, Sector 32, for testing. She had to stand in a long queue to get the Covid-testing form. She had visited the centre at 4 pm and received a call for testing at 9 pm.”
