‘Rapid Antigen Tests More Efficient To Control Spread'

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia says both RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests have false negatives but RATs are more efficient to identify and isolate probable asymptomatics who could easily turn transmitters

- Aaisha Sabir

Starting from handling the health department when Health Minister Satyendar Jain tested positive to overseeing the Capital’s economic recovery and evolving teaching methods suitable for adapting to a raging pandemic, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia speaks to Aaisha Sabir of Millennium Post on lessons from COVID-19, how to bring back the economy and the constant tussle with the L-G’s office.

Excerpts:

The Delhi government has talked about its Mohalla Clinics for years now. During this pandemic, they were put to the test. Did you feel there are shortcomings in the Mohalla Clinics or what advantages did you have of having invested in it?

In the last five to six years, the amount we worked and invested in the health department really helped in handling the pandemic and Mohalla Clinics became the base for our planning. We had health centers set up, we had trained paramedics ready. Mohalla Clinic was not the answer to all the requirements but it was a key component during this pandemic. The set up of the Mohalla Clinic immediately helped us reach people on the ground level. The learning we had was that we were right in saying that the government of the day should heavily spend on health and education, this pandemic proved us right about that.

Your government has been vocal about testing, yet in the last few weeks RT-PCR tests have dipped significantly and rapid antigen tests (RATs) have increased. And given the high court’s remarks on the false negativity of RATs, why is Delhi still not conducting RT-PCR at full capacity?