Mandatory COVID-19 testing has been mandated for all patients with respiratory complaints in Delhi hospitals, and the government has also instructed genome sequencing for all positive samples. Despite the emergence of the new coronavirus variant, the situation is currently manageable, with cases remaining in single digits. Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj revealed that the positivity rate from 208 tests conducted on Tuesday was 0.48%. These directives were issued following a review meeting led by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on COVID-19 preparedness with state and union territory health ministers.
The specific instructions include the collection of COVID samples from ILI/SARI patients in all government hospitals, sending adequate COVID samples for RT-PCR testing, and performing genome sequencing on positive RT-PCR samples. The government also emphasized the importance of raising awareness to prevent overcrowding and improve ventilation in settings, recommending mask-wearing measures. In response to the recent rise in respiratory illness cases in China, particularly pneumonia in children, Health Minister Bharadwaj convened a meeting with respiratory medicine experts. The experts will develop SOPs for testing Multiplex PCR in culture-negative severe pneumonia cases and maintain a sufficient supply of antiviral drugs. The government also announced the implementation of operational guidelines for a revised surveillance strategy on COVID-19.
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