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NEW DELHI: The Indian Council for Medical Research in its advisory for Covid-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic has recommended that the need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories.
The ICMR also recommends that the vaccination status of all individuals tested for Covid-19 must be entered into the Sample Referral Form (SRF) in the RT-PCR app both for individuals tested by RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
Explaining the need for a detailed advisory on testing for Covid-19, ICMR cites the “unprecedented upsurge of Covid-19 cases and deaths currently being witnessed across India”. The overall nationwide test positivity rate is above 20%. In this backdrop testing-tracking-tracing, isolation and home-based treatment of positive patients is the key measure to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Updated:
May 03, 2021 18:44 IST
Amid a shortage of medical oxygen, he said the government is exploring the feasibility of converting existing nitrogen plants to produce oxygen.
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A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) clean and spray disfectant inside a hall temporarily converted into a quarantine centre for coronavirus patients, in Hyderabad on May 3, 2021.
| Photo Credit:
Nagara Gopal
Amid a shortage of medical oxygen, he said the government is exploring the feasibility of converting existing nitrogen plants to produce oxygen. As the second wave of coronavirus continues to engulf several parts of the country, the Centre on Monday said some states are showing very early signs of plateauing in daily new COVID-19 cases, while some remain a cause of concern.
Former Union Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram. File
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
Opportune moment for Opposition parties to come together and take on BJP at national level, says ex-Finance Minister
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