HYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Sunday said it will conduct Covid-19 tests on serious cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and made it mandatory for private and government hospitals to report such cases to authorities.
Accordingly, Telangana health department has tweaked the coronavirus testing norms about those requiring hospitalisation.
According to the new circular, all government and private hospitals must notify the details of patients — serious or non-serious — with SARI symptoms to the government. And only those who require hospitalisation would be tested for Covid-19.
A research conducted in April by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on ‘SARI surveillance for coronavirus disease’ revealed that of the 190 samples of SARI tested in the state, eight turned positive for novel coronavirus.
Most SARI symptoms are similar to novel coronavirus.
Govt focussing on 1st contacts for tests
“If there is an unprecedented spike in the number of SARI cases from a specific place or multiple areas, the cause and the probability of novel coronavirus can be found out. This will further reduce the chance of a community-based spread of the virus,” a top official said.
So far, the government has been focussing on the first contacts — family members and those who had closely moved with novel coronavirus patients — for tests.
The new notification says that all such cases regarding patients above 15 years with SARI symptoms, including fever and at least one respiratory syndrome, should be informed to the government.
“As per the prescribed guidelines the details should be uploaded on the notifiable diseases portal of the government,” an official said.
Accordingly, Telangana health department has tweaked the coronavirus testing norms about those requiring hospitalisation.
According to the new circular, all government and private hospitals must notify the details of patients — serious or non-serious — with SARI symptoms to the government. And only those who require hospitalisation would be tested for Covid-19.
A research conducted in April by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on ‘SARI surveillance for coronavirus disease’ revealed that of the 190 samples of SARI tested in the state, eight turned positive for novel coronavirus.
Most SARI symptoms are similar to novel coronavirus.
Govt focussing on 1st contacts for tests
“If there is an unprecedented spike in the number of SARI cases from a specific place or multiple areas, the cause and the probability of novel coronavirus can be found out. This will further reduce the chance of a community-based spread of the virus,” a top official said.
So far, the government has been focussing on the first contacts — family members and those who had closely moved with novel coronavirus patients — for tests.
The new notification says that all such cases regarding patients above 15 years with SARI symptoms, including fever and at least one respiratory syndrome, should be informed to the government.
“As per the prescribed guidelines the details should be uploaded on the notifiable diseases portal of the government,” an official said.
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