Dakshina Kannada to get 25,800 additional rapid antigen test kits

MANGALURU: In a move that will further bolster testing for Covid-19 among the general population, the state government has sanctioned 25,800 rapid antigen test kits to Dakshina Kannada district. Using these kits sanctioned earlier, 8,000-odd free Covid-19 tests have been conducted in government health facilities across the district out of which 600 people have tested positive.
In addition, free RT-PCR tests are also being carried out at district Wenlock Hospital.
In all, free Covid-19 tests are being carried out in 78 government health facilities including 66 primary health centres (PHC) and 12 urban PHCs. In addition, these tests are also being carried out in six community health centres and taluk hospitals at Sullia, Puttur, Belthangady and Bantwal. The supply of additional rapid antigen test kits will bolster testing capacity in the district, noted Kota Shrinivas Poojari, Dakshina Kannada district minister.
Covid-19 care for patients who have tested positive is being given in 8 medical college hospitals and 23 private hospitals. Out of these, 9 hospitals are charging rates fixed by the government under Ayushman Bharat scheme. In other hospitals, people must bear the actual treatment costs. All private hospitals with more than 20 beds have been compulsorily directed to register under Ayushman Bharat Scheme and this process will be completed in a week.
Directing people to ascertain beforehand if treatment in private hospitals is covered under the scheme, Poojari said private hospitals that conduct Covid-19 tests should mandatorily direct asymptomatic patients to undergo home quarantine without admitting them to their respective hospitals. If the patients concerned are not eligible for home quarantine, then such patients should be referred to the Covid care centres managed by the administration.
Steps have been taken to appoint 21 lab technicians to rural PHCs and Covid-19 testing will be started there once appointments are done. On availability of ventilators, health officials said 48 ventilators are working at district Wenlock Hospital. Work of installing 38 more ventilators will be completed soon and steps have also been initiated to install 15 additional ventilators. Five additional ventilators will be installed at Lady Goschen Hospital, he said.
Wenlock Hospital has 210 beds with high flow oxygen systems. All taluk hospitals will get this facility for 50 of their beds and 30 beds in community health centres will be equipped with this facility. All this work will be completed within a week. Incidentally, state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel at a media briefing to mark the completion of one-year of B S Yediyurappa government had said all district and taluk hospitals will get this facility by August 15.