India To Increase Number Of Coronavirus Testings, People With No Travel History To Be Tested

India has reported four deaths and 258 cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country so far. While the numbers are rapidly increasing for the past few days, many health experts have pointed out that the number of confirmed cases in the country with a population of 1.3 billion is very low and has suggested that India is not carrying out enough tests.

So far, the coronavirus testing in India has been limited to those with travel history and those who have come in direct contact with Covid-19 patients. On Friday, the Union Health Ministry in an advisory to hospitals said that all pneumonia patients irrespective of their travel history will also be tested for COVID-19.

¡°No suspected COVID-19 patient should be turned away from any hospital and the admission of any such patient should be notified to NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) or IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program) immediately. Similarly, all pneumonia patients must also be notified to NCDC or IDSP so that they can be tested for COVID-19,¡± the new rules state. Hospitals have also been advised to ensure social distancing on their premises.

BCCL

Hospitals have also been asked to keep some beds apart and be prepared for creating isolation facilities. All hospitals should mobilize additional resources including masks, gloves and personal protection equipment. Healthcare personnel should be trained in dealing with any foreseeable emergencies. All doctors, nurses and support staff in different specialities, including pre and para clinical departments, should be mobilized and trained in infection prevention and control practices. Hospitals must procure sufficient numbers of ventilators and high flow oxygen masks in preparation for future requirements.

AFP

All hospitals must ensure that they have adequate trained manpower and resource pools for ventilator/ ICU care. The ministry has also directed the hospital to provide treatment free of cost to any medical personnel who pick up the infection while treating patients.

BCCL

This comes at a time when the government and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) insist that there is no community transmission of Covid-19 in India.

"Till date, 826 samples of people suffering from severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses have been tested at the sites. No sample was found positive," ICMR Director General Dr. Balram Bhargava had said.

India has also decided to allow some private labs to conduct Covid-19 tests. ICMR is set to give 51 private hospitals and laboratories the go-ahead to start testing for the viral disease, but the price of each test is likely to be capped at around Rs 5,000.