Health department issues new guidelines to curb Covid spread

FIGHTING THE VIRUS New norms provide for testing of more samples in the areas with a high positivity rate

JAIPUR: The health department on Sunday issued new testing guidelines for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which provided for testing of more samples in the areas of Rajasthan with high positivity rate.

The positivity rate is decided by the number of cases testing positive for Covid-19 per 100 samples tested.

The detailed guidelines, issued by medical and health department principal secretary Akhil Arora, also emphasised on the need for review of sample testing in the areas with low positivity rate.

“We have issued the guidelines to ensure that we stop the spread of infection by studying the patterns of patients and spread. The objective is also to ensure treatment to positive cases,” Arora said.

The guidelines mention 12 categories of people for testing, four for random sampling and also talk about the process if a sample tests positive or negative.

The 12 categories of people whose samples should be taken for test are: People who have undertaken an international travel in last 14 days and have symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI); contacts of positive cases who have ILI; all health and frontline workers engaged in Covid-19 care and have ILI; people who have symptoms of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection); close contacts of positive cases who are asymptomatic; people with ILI in hot spots and containment zones; all indoor patients with ILI or with co-morbid conditions or belonging to the risk group; people who travelled in from outside and have ILI; health and other workers who are in close contacts of patients; all indoor patients in medical institutions.

The guidelines said that the sample of people who are asymptomatic and are contacts of positive patients should be taken between fifth and tenth day of the positive report. Sample of people who travelled into the state and have ILI should be tested after seven days of institutional isolation and before home isolation.

The guidelines also talk about random sampling of four categories of people: Super spreaders such as domestic helps, fruit and vegetable vendors, grocery store workers, hair dressers, those running beauty parlours, saloons and ironing clothes; vulnerable groups (people above 60 years, those with chronic illness, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, chronic lung disease) in congested areas; people in areas where large assemblies occur such as mandis, bus stands, airports, public transport, banks and other financial institutions; and corona warriors and health care workers in government and private hospitals with high patient load.

“If random samples suggest high positivity rate, the department will focus more on the area,” the principal secretary said.

The department has directed lab technicians to feed profile of person whose sample is being drawn into the RT-PCR app. “Upload Aadhaar of the person; if that is not available, upload Aadhaar of head of the family. Also indicate if the sample is new or repeat,” mention the guidelines.

The guidelines said that a person whose sample has been collected for testing should be informed about the result, positive or negative, within 24 hours. “It is responsibility of the hospital, lab or department officials that every person whose sample has been taken is informed about the test result,” the guidelines said.

“If a sample tests negative and the person is asymptomatic, advise him precautions. If sample tests negative and the person has mild symptoms, provide him treatment at home. If the sample tests negative and the person has moderate or severe symptoms, send him to SARI ward of nonCovid hospital for treatment,” the guidelines said.

For a person who tests positive, but is asymptomatic or has mild symptoms, put the person in home isolation; if the person is from the vulnerable group, a health officer should monitor the case, especially for oxygen level.

The home isolation will be for 14 days and after expiry of this period, the person will sign an undertaking of informing the department if there are symptoms. The department will give hydroxycholoquine (HCQ) as prohylaxis to close contacts and care givers of people in home isolation.

If such people don’t have home isolation facility, they will be kept in Covid care centres. They need to be followed up for seven days if there is no fever for three days in a row.