Ramadan 2020: Coronavirus test doesn't affect fasting, says doctor

Abu Dhabi - People should continue visiting the drive-through testing centres and other facilities to be tested during Ramadan, an expert has said.

Those residents who observe fasting need not hesitate to go for Covid-19 testing as the process doesn't affect fasting, an expert has said. 
Dr Anwar Sallam, group chief medical officer at the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), has explained that the testing for Covid-19, which takes less than five minutes doesn't in anyway affect patients who are fasting.
"The virus is usually in the nasal secretions. And taking the nose swab from a patient for testing doesn't affect their fasting," said Sallam, adding that people should continue visiting the drive-through testing centres and other facilities to be tested during Ramadan.  
According to medics, testing for Covid-19 involves inserting a six-inch long swab (like a long Q-tip) into the cavity between the nose and mouth (nasopharyngeal swab) for 15 seconds and rotating the swab several times. The swabbing is then repeated on the other side of the nose to make sure enough material is collected. The swab is then inserted into a container and sent to a lab for testing.
Health authorities encourage people to go for Covid-19 testing stressing that getting a positive or negative result decides whether a person needs to be in isolation for treatment. It also allows authorities to track down the people who came in contact with the infected as they are required to go into self-quarantine.
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the UAE has believed in the importance of mass testing and the country's level of testing relative to the population is higher than the international level.
The UAE has conducted over 1,122,000 tests in hospitals and health centres and established 14 drive-through testing centres. It has also conducted home testing for people of determination. The UAE also provides testing services to all citizens and residents in many hospitals and specialist health centres.
Seha operates the 14 drive-through testing centres around the country, in line with the policy to expand the number of tests and simplify and facilitate procedures.
Dr Sallam said the operating time for all the drive-through testing centres during Ramadan is from Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 1pm.
"The current hot weather and fasting can affect the performance of any person. But with the reduction in working hours at testing centres during Ramadan, it will help our doctors and health workers conducting the tests to cope with fasting," he said.   
The drive-through testing centres established by Seha are located at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City, Al Bahia, Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, Hili, Ashaj in Al Ain, Ghayathi and Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra Region , Port Rashid and Al Khawaneej in Dubai, and the centers of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Ramadan 2021