In view of the impending second wave of COVID19 pandemic and to assess the trend on COVID-19 transmission and prevalence in the community, State Health department has asked all district task forces (DTFs) to conduct random sampling and testing of high risk settings from time to time.
As per the advisory issued by the principal director of Health & Family Welfare department, Dr Kevichusa Medikhru, the testing for risk groups include shopkeepers in crowded market, shopping complex & business establishment; street vendors; drivers/operators of bus/taxi/auto rickshaws/rickshaws; restaurant and hotel employees, teachers/students of various institutions; inmates of hostels/prisons; offices and faith leaders etc. in coordination with respective associations/unions and authorities. For this the department has advised Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). However, all symptomatic RAT negatives to be mandatorily subjected to RT-PCR/Truenat tests, it added.
It also advised RT-PCR/Truenat testing of all in-door patients upon admission in all hospitals and also random mobile testing at point of entries from time to time through RAT.
The department stated that testing for such risk groups shall be free of cost.
“During the sampling for random screening tests, the contact details of all close contacts such as co-travellers, customers, present, patient attendants, inmates, etc. are to be collected compulsorily, so as to ensure 25-30 such close contacts to be traced for each infected person,” the advisory said. “Tracing and their isolation to be done in 72 hours. Subsequent testing and follow-up of all close contacts to be carried out,” it added.
1 Covid case in Kma
Nagaland on Sunday reported one new COVID-19 positive case in Kohima, taking the total caseload to 12363.
With this the active cases also rose to 134. Till date, a total of 11980 patients have recovered from the infection.