Researchers spot gaps in Vietnam's contact tracing process

COLOMBO (News1st): Researchers have identified gaps in Vietnam's contact investigation process concerning COVID - 19 which bears almost similar features to the system in Sri Lanka. Vietnamese researchers said contact investigation is an important strategy to detect and isolate infection sources and to reduce continuing transmission. In an article to be published in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease researchers said Vietnam had successfully contained the first outbreak of the virus. However, a second outbreak has been going on as several coronavirus patients had entered the country following which their contacts too had tested positive. Similarly, Sri Lanka too detected one patient in the first wave of arrivals from China. However, 158 infections were found in the second wave of arrivals from European countries. According to the research, at least three generations of contacts have to be traced and two generations should be tested to successfully kill community transmission. Further, the research showed that patients who initially test negative and are discharged from quarantine in an inappropriate manner may subsequently test positive for the virus. Yesterday, a 34-year old man who returned from quarantine 10 days ago after undergoing 14-day quarantine in Kandakadu tested positive for the virus. The researchers stressed that people in quarantine should be tested twice before being released. In Sri Lanka, those who are released from quarantine have been advised to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days.