Pune: Against the backdrop of the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, the Maharashtra state government has issued new instructions regarding tests. It has issued new guidelines for testing people who need to be tested, according to the different methods of testing, and then testing them for antigen, Truenat or RTPCR (swab).
These instructions have been prepared by Pradip Vyas, the principal secretary of the Maharashtra state, and has issued them to all the District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, Medical Colleges and District Surgeons in the state.
Accordingly, it is recommended that only a specific group of individuals be tested for antigen. Therefore, it will be possible to decide on the treatment of patients in half an hour.
According to the new rules, patients with a negative antigen test, but with symptoms, should be re-tested with RTPCR. It also called RTPCR testing of COVID-19 positive (high-risk contact) and foreign passengers. Truenat-based testing should be done on patients who have died in the hospital (brought dead), mothers who have given birth, and patients who need urgent surgery. If the Truenat method is not available, the antigen method should be tested, it is said.
Do not do tests if there are no symptoms for the travellers, people entering the district or traders who do not have symptoms of COVID-19.
It was also said that each person should be tested as per protocol and the instructions laid down by the central government, but no more tests should be done.
Test only after a week of isolation
Patients admitted to hospital should be kept in isolation for a week and then, after antigen testing, it should be decided whether to keep them in isolation or another ward based on the test results. Also, inmates admitted to prisons should be kept in isolation for seven days and after seven days, a decision should be taken whether to isolate them after antigen testing or send them to a COVID-19 hospital.
