Return of breathalyser tests in Delhi, Chennai sparks concerns about Covid transmission
Health

Return of breathalyser tests in Delhi, Chennai sparks concerns about Covid transmission

Health experts are divided on the issue with some noting that breathalyser tests do increase risk of infection while others say, the risk is minimal.

   

Traffic police inspecting oncoming traffic in Delhi (representational image) | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

New Delhi: The return of the breathalyser tests to detect drink driving in Delhi and Chennai has once again sparked concerns about the transmission of Covid-19 through these tests.

The practice had stopped in March 2020 to prevent the spread of the virus among citizens as well as police personnel who conduct the test. For the test, a driver is supposed to blow into a mouthpiece, which is attached to a testing device.

After more than a year, Delhi Police Saturday resumed these tests and over the weekend around 130 people were prosecuted for drink driving, ThePrint has learnt. Chennai Police, meanwhile, restarted the test early last month, according to senior traffic police officers.

Health experts, however, have offered mixed opinions on these tests and the likelihood of Covid spreading through them.

Speaking to ThePrint, Dr N.N. Mathur, Professor of Excellence ENT at the Lady Hardinge Medical College & Hospitals and Additional Directorate General of Health Services said, “If a person is Covid-19 positive and the instrument isn’t sterilised properly after his test, it has the potential of transmitting the virus.

“While it is important to take actions against people who drink and drive, under the present circumstances, I don’t think that should be the method. The police should look for other methods or keep sterilising the equipment,” Dr Mathur said.

Dr Vijay Hadda, AIIMS Critical Care, echoed the sentiment, noting that “anything coming in contact with respiratory secretions including breathalysers have transmission risks, whether its Covid-19 or tuberculosis”.

“I’m not aware of the data about the extent of the risk but there is definitely potential of transmitting the infection from one person to another,” Dr Hadda told ThePrint.

However, Dr B.L. Sherwal, Medical Director at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital said that there is “no problem (with the tests) because the air is exhaled in the pipe and not inhaled and they change the pipe every time.”

“If they inhaled it then there is a possibility of transmission, in this case there is no established risk of transmission”.


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Safety instructions

According to Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Muktesh Chander, the decision to resume the use of breathalyser was taken as restaurants and bars restarted their businesses, increasing the risk of road accidents due to drunk driving.

“All activities — banquet halls, bars, pubs and restaurants have resumed. People shouldn’t get the impression that drink driving is no longer an offence, we have resumed these tests to avoid fatal road accidents. While 90 were fined on Saturday, only 40 were challaned on Sunday, after the news spread,” Chander told ThePrint.

On transmission risks, the officer said that “disposable pipes are used and a new pipe is used each time”.

“Moreover, the device is regularly sanitised, including the personnel handling it. Special teams who have been given safety instructions have been deployed strategically for these checks. We ensure that Covid appropriate behaviour – wearing masks, gloves and maintaining social distancing norms are followed,” he added.

“If a particular individual isn’t willing to undergo the test, he or she will be taken for a blood test,” the special CP officer said.

Breathalyser tests still suspended in most cities

While Delhi and Chennai have resumed breathalyser tests, other prominent cities like Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai have not yet restarted them with police personnel citing the risk of infection as the reason behind it.

A senior Mumbai Police officer, who wished to remain unnamed, said, “We cannot risk the health of the people including that of our own personnel. Mumbai has suffered a lot during the first two waves of the coronavirus pandemic”.

Officers in Bengaluru and Kolkata also noted that no decision has been made regarding the tests in the cities.

“We will continue to detect drink driving cases through routine checks for rash driving and other traffic violations,” a senior police officer from Kolkata told ThePrint.


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