Ensure all symptomatic people take RT-PCR test: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked all districts to strictly ensure that each and every symptomatic person testing negative through antigen test is subjected to an RT-PCR test. It is part of the government directive to increase the number of the gold standard test.
“Existing guidelines say that if any patient’s antigen test is negative but has symptoms, RT-PCR test must be done on him. I directed the officers today to ensure strict compliance of these guidelines,” Kejriwal tweeted.
A total of 5,074 RT-PCR tests were conducted on Tuesday in the city, while the total number of antigen tests conducted was 12,318. Delhi high court had asked the government why it was not ramping up the gold standard test.
Following the CM’s directive, the districts are gearing up to conduct more RT-PCR tests. A couple of districts have written to NCDC indicating their plans to increase the number of tests. “We want to conduct 200 more RT-PCR tests daily. Instructions have been issued to dispensaries and private hospitals to increase the number,” said a source.
Of late, Delhi has been conducting only 50% of its RT-PCR capacity of 11,000 tests per day.
An official claimed that all the districts have been carrying out RT-PCR tests on symptomatic persons who have tested negative in tests conducted by rapid antigen tests.