Date Published: 24/08/2020
ARCHIVED - Murcian health service acquires new PCR analysis machines to speed up diagnosis
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Politics is getting heated at the moment as every party seeks to blame another for the current situation
It’s inevitable that there is going to be tense political dialogue in the coming months as the covid virus continues to extend its grip on the world and our politicians argue about whose fault it is, criticise decisions and claim that they themselves could have done more to avoid the current situation.
The situation in the Murcia region has deteriorated in the last couple of weeks, and as cases passed the 2,000 mark on Sunday, which also delivered a record day for new cases with 255, political fur is flying.
The regional PSRM-PSOE has accused the regional government of “a lack of foresight in the management of Health at a regional level”, which has naturally irritated the incumbent government.
Regional deputy of the PP Carmen Ruiz Jódar responded to the accusation saying that "the Ministry of Health has been working to incorporate new PCR analysis machines, which will speed up the obtaining of results."
The "new infrastructure will better automate the analytics process and is just one of the improvements that are being applied in the Murcian health service to speed up diagnosis of cases."
There have been some teething issues in the implementation, but the Deputy explained that, “these are temporary delays due to a temporary circumstance, being the integration of these new machines, but the tracking work is the same: the tests are being done on time but quarantines have to be complied with as well."
The Deputy stressed that "every day in the Region of Murcia more than 2,000 PCRs are carried out, which shows the exhaustive work that the regional government is doing to control the spread of the virus."
In addition, she added that "there is a permanent team of 240 trackers reinforced by professionals from health centers in areas where there is a greater incidence of covid."
One point she did make was to call for greater "responsibility" from the public. There have been many instances of the public failing to turn up for allocated appointments when asked to take a PCR test by contact tracers, wasting the time of personnel, and limiting the potential number of tests which can be carried out in a given day, and there has also been a problem with those who have takena PCR test and are awaiting the results failing to maintain quarantine as requested.
It is also a constant challenge to ensure that those who should be in quarantine do not breach their 14 day confinement. Last week Murcia city council revealed that they have amassed evidence to show that this is happening at least 30 times a day in the Murcia municipality alone, part of the reason that cases are currently spiralling in the capital.
In spite of attempts to limit the numbers breaking quarantine, there is still no legal mechanism making breach of quarantine a criminal offence, and the national government is being pressured by regional governments of all political persuasions to create legislation which will help the regional authorities to police covid quarantines.