PANAJI: After the public interest litigation petitioners in the Covid 19 case objected to entry being permitted into the state to persons on the basis of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT), the high court of Bombay at Goa told the government that the expert committee should take a call on the issue.
The petitioners told the court that the state government on June 6 permitted that RAT also be valid in addition to RT-PCR/TruNat tests for entering into the state.
Advocate Akaash Rebello, representing one of the petitioners, argued that RAT could be used only in particular situations — for those who come in without a test or for those who travel in and out of the state on a daily basis — on the basis of some protocol, but not for everybody as the test has a much lower accuracy.
At the peak it was understandable as labs were under tremendous strain, but now numbers have fallen, he stated.
Advocate Nigel Costa Frias stated that for international travel all airlines always ask for RT-PCR.
The bench stated that the expert committee constituted by the government, which has a fair representation of experts in the field, should decide and take a call.
Advocate general Devidas Pangam told the court that during the peak there was a spike in cases all over the country and RT-PCR was being asked for at that time.
At this stage, when the situation is better, why should the state insist on it, he asked.
The bench said that if the expert committee, in view of the impending third wave, decides that stricter measures be taken and RT-PCR be insisted upon, then the state government “should consider their views”.
The state submitted to the high court that RAT reports are also approved by the ICMR in addition to RT-PCR and added that the requirements of RAT reports do not violate the HC order.