ICMR intensifies testing strategies for COVID-19

As cases of coronavirus see a huge increase across the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday intensified the testing strategy for COVID-19 cases, especially in hotspots and evacuees centres that have been identified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

ICMR has directed that in the hotspots, cluster areas, large migration gatherings and evacuees centres, all symptomatic ILI (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose) will have to be tested within seven days of illness (rRT-PCR) and after that period, an antibody test (if negative, confirmed by rRT-PCR) will be done.

For regions other than the above, the testing strategy is to test all symptomatic individuals who have undertaken foreign travel in the last 14 days, all symptomatic contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases, all symptomatic healthcare workers, all patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (fever, cough and/or shortness of breath). Asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day five and day 14 of coming in his/her contact.

Till Thursday evening, India had 5,734 cases of coronavirus, the health ministry informed.

"473 people recovered & discharged from the hospital so far. Total 5734 confirmed cases reported in the country till date, 549 new cases in the last 24 hours. 166 deaths have been reported till dates, 17 deaths since yesterday," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry stated.

He also informed that supplies of PPEs, masks, and ventilators have now begun, with 20 domestic manufacturers in India developing PPEs.