Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 25: The Health Ministry on Saturday announced a new set of guidelines in response to the increasing cases of coronavirus across the country.
The joint recommendation issued by the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), made note of the fact that COVID-19 testing has decreased in several states over the past few weeks and that current testing levels fall short of the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 140 tests per million.
Testing at the district and block levels varies as well, with some states relying largely on the less accurate quick antigen tests.
“In the past several weeks, in some states, Covid-19 testing has declined and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by WHO i.e 140 tests/million. Testing at the level of districts and blocks also varies, with some states heavily relying on the less sensitive rapid antigen tests,” the letter to states, UTs read.
DG ICMR Dr Rajiv Bahl and Secy, MoHFW Rajesh Bhushan write to all States/UTs on maintaining optimum testing for Covid-19 pic.twitter.com/xS5ycvqYa1
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2023
The health ministry issued a warning, stressing the need of maintaining optimal Covid-19 testing, evenly dispersed across the states (with appropriate adjustments to meet the appearance of new clusters of Covid cases).
According to the government directive, coronavirus and influenza have a number of characteristics in common, including a high risk population, a route of transmission, and clinical signs and symptoms. The government issued an advice to increase community awareness of the need of maintaining respiratory and hand cleanliness in order to stop the spread of the illness.
