EditorialResponse to self-tests hotline calls for more effort in coronavirus battle
- People are turning to kits in an attempt to protect themselves as the exponential growth in infections brings the government to its knees
That the government is racing against time to curb the worsening fifth wave is reflected in the mounting daily numbers of Covid-19 infections.
Yesterday, the backlog of those awaiting treatment and isolation surged further after an online platform encouraging self-tested patients to come forward finally came into operation following a long delay.
Given the limited facilities, prioritising resources for the most vulnerable remains key. Officials must critically assess trends and adjust relevant measures in a decisive and timely manner.
The 14,715 valid registrations on the platform in the first five hours speak for themselves. People are turning to rapid antigen test kits in an attempt to protect themselves as the exponential growth in infections brings the government to its knees.
Despite officials eventually making an embarrassing U-turn to accept rapid test results as confirmed infections starting from February 25, the declaration platform was still not ready until Monday night. Such a delay does nothing for those fighting the deadly outbreak.
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In line with infections identified through other channels, the number of registrations is not surprising. Officials are right in thinking that the recent fall in daily infections may just be a result of people opting to test themselves.