Rapid testing of all people in Punjab containment zones

CHANDIGARH: To control the spread of Covid-19 through timely detection and isolation of infected people in the worst-hit areas, Punjab government has decided to test all people in the containment zones.
The health department has identified 97 containment zones – micro containment zones and large outbreak zones -- across the state having a collective population of 46,504. People residing in these areas will be tested by using rapid antigen tests (RAT) -- a quicker method of testing. These tests can give results in 15 to 20 minutes but have 60% accuracy rate only.

According to the guidelines framed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), people tested negative by rapid antigen test are to be tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out infection. However, a positive test is considered as a true positive and need not to be reconfirmation by RT-PCR test.
As per the plan worked out by the health department for stopping the spread of virus in the defined geographical area, health teams will launch a doorto-door drive for testing the population in the contained area and isolating those found positive from the population.
Ludh has most micro containment zones
The health department has also increased surveillance in these areas. Besides, special focus will be given on extensive contact tracing and proper clinical management of all confirmed cases.
The number of positive cases has been increasing at an alarming rate since July, with the bulk coming from the mostpopulated districts like Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. Of 97 high-priority areas, 55 are in these districts.
Ludhiana, the worst-affected district of the state, has the highest number of 16 micro containment zones -- areas having 5-14 active cases. The industrial hub of Ludhiana, which also happens to be the most densely-populated district of the state, has contributed the highest number of cases in nearly two weeks. Jalandhar has 14 micro containment zones and one area with large outbreak -- areas having 15 or more active cases --while in Patiala, there are 13 micro containment zones. In Amritsar, there are 10 micro containment zones and one zone with large outbreak.
The director health services has also directed all the civil surgeons that no individual visiting health facilities voluntarily should be denied Covid-19 testing.