Coronavirus Updates: ICMR issued New Guidelines on coronavirus Testing

New Delhi: The corona infection in the country is increasing everyday. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released new guidelines regarding coronavirus testing. According to the new guidelines, those traveling abroad or in other states of the country should have a negative certificate of corona test.

The ICMR said,  ‘if any person wants to get himself tested (testing on demand), the state governments must set rules for them. Public health authorities should notify that laboratory tracking and contract tracing mechanisms are ensured. The state government should adopt a simple method for this. These changes have been recommended by the National Task Force regarding the Corona Test.

The general guidelines of ICMR  are amended according to the state health authorities. Corona Testing is divided into four sections. Such as Containment Zone, regular monitoring in non-Containment areas, hospital and on demand testing.

The rapid antigen test (RAT), RT-PCR, TrueNat or CBNAAT test is carried in the containment area. According to the guidelines, entry points in the Containment Zone should be constantly monitored. There should be continuous screening in these places. RT-PCR test should be done only when a person shows  breathlessness or other symptoms even after being found negative in antigen test. 100 percent testing should be done for people living in the Containment Zone.

For non-containment zones,  it had to be monitored regularly. In the last 14 days, international travelers should be tested. New guidelines have been asked to test the workers returning to the city. ICMR has said in the new testing guidelines, ‘the government should make all arrangements for this kind of test. All patients undergoing surgical or non-surgical procedures should be tested but only once a week. Patients like stroke, encephalitis, hemoptysis can be tested if necessary as per doctor’s advice.