by NEW DELHI: Amid rapidly rising Omicron cases, the Centre on Friday advised states to increase rapid antigen tests (RAT) for early detection and isolation of Covid-positive cases.
The health ministry also stressed that any person with fever, with or without other symptoms such as headache, sore throat, breathlessness, bodyache, loss of taste or smell, should be considered as a suspected case of Covid-19 and must be immediately isolated, unless proven otherwise by confirmation of another aetiology.
In a letter to all states and Union territories, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan underlined the need to upscale testing and fully utilise the existing capacity. A rise in Covid-19 cases accompanied by an increase in positivity rate is being documented in various parts of the country, he said, adding that early testing of suspected patients and their contacts and isolating them expeditiously are key to curbing transmission.
The Centre advised states to expedite procurement of necessary testing equipment and set up multiple RAT booths on a 24/7 basis and permit RAT at government and private hospitals, including all districts hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
The ministry stressed the need to increase RAT as RT-PCR-based testing leads to delays in confirming diagnosis due to its turnaround time of 5-8 hours.
The health ministry also stressed that any person with fever, with or without other symptoms such as headache, sore throat, breathlessness, bodyache, loss of taste or smell, should be considered as a suspected case of Covid-19 and must be immediately isolated, unless proven otherwise by confirmation of another aetiology.
In a letter to all states and Union territories, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan underlined the need to upscale testing and fully utilise the existing capacity. A rise in Covid-19 cases accompanied by an increase in positivity rate is being documented in various parts of the country, he said, adding that early testing of suspected patients and their contacts and isolating them expeditiously are key to curbing transmission.
The Centre advised states to expedite procurement of necessary testing equipment and set up multiple RAT booths on a 24/7 basis and permit RAT at government and private hospitals, including all districts hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
The ministry stressed the need to increase RAT as RT-PCR-based testing leads to delays in confirming diagnosis due to its turnaround time of 5-8 hours.
