Overflow of visitors overshadows PCR-testing stations at VK
In the heart of East Kazakhstan, a surge of COVID-19 cases has swamped PCR test collection points. The city of Ust-Kamenogorsk has become a hub of chaos, with unruly lines snaking outside laboratories. As travel from the region is restricted, people scramble to obtain a negative COVID-19 test before they can leave.
Locals received dire warnings via text messages on November 2, urging them to get tested on the following day. Yet, the sudden restriction has caused chaos, resulting in swarming crowds at collection points in the morning. Residents find themselves fuming over the last-minute notice.
In the sprawl of the city, we've scoured the streets, visiting "Olympus", Bespalova 51, Abaya, and the diagnostic center – nowhere has room for samples; only express tests are accepted. These tests are useless at the airport and railway station.
A traveler, clutching a KSHT in uncertainty, shares their predicament. They need to be present in the morning but are unsure if their results will come in time. They've abandoned their plans, left to their own devices. Only yesterday were they informed by "Air Astana" that they required a PCR test, with just 24 hours to spare.
The press service of the Department of Quality and Safety Control of Goods and Services of the region assures that the predicament is under control. Aiming for relief, they plan to open additional test collection points to alleviate the strain on the existing 10 labs across the region.
"We've seen queues form on social media, and it's true, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey have seen the brunt of this chaos," admitted Talgat Tungaliev, the acting head of the Department of Quality and Safety Control of Goods and Services of East Kazakhstan.
A similar scene unfolds in Semey. The day before the city's departure, 287 people – all bearing PCR certificates – were prevented from boarding trains to Nur-Sultan, Almaty, and Kyzylorda due to the lack of tests. Money for their tickets was swiftly refunded.
Aisara Bisenova, Almaty TV channel
Unpacking the crisis:
- Bolstering laboratory capacity through expanded test collection points and additional staff could ease the stress on existing facilities.
- Utilizing digital appointment systems and optimizing workflows might help reduce crowd gatherings and hasten the testing process.
- Closely monitoring current COVID-19 trends and communicating updates to the public through various channels is essential to ensure travel policies remain relevant and accessible.
- Amid the surging COVID-19 cases, bolstering laboratory capacity by opening additional test collection points and recruiting more staff could ease the stress on existing facilities in Ust-Kamenogorsk, promoting health-and-wellness and medical-conditions management.
- To address the chaos at PCR test collection points, it may be beneficial to implement digital appointment systems and optimize workflows, which could help reduce crowd gatherings and expedite the testing process, contributing to the science community's efforts against the ongoing pandemic.
