In the last few days, telephones have been ringing off the hook at hospitals and pathological laboratories both private and government-run across Ranchi. Officials at these healthcare centres simply refuse to answer them as they know that they just cannot honour requests for hospital beds or make arrangements for quick or at-home Covid tests anymore.
Such has been the surge in the number of coronavirus cases and the demand for Covid tests among people with Covid-like symptoms that healthcare officials in Ranchi have had to tie up with path labs in Patna and Mumbai just to clear the backlog. At sample collection centres across the city, people with cough and fever have stood in tight queues for as much as six hours just for their swaps to be taken. And in some cases, it takes days to get the report, triggering anxiety among those who believe that they have contracted the virus.
Ranchi: Following a recent spike in cases being reported in Maharashtra and in Kerala, the state government has decided to test all incoming passengers at airports and railway stations for Covid-19. “We have already installed testing facilities at airports and railway stations as per government orders. If required, we might ramp up testing in other areas of the state as well,” Dr Ravishankar Shukla, MD (Jharkhand unit) of National Health Mission, said on Friday.
In addition to this, the state health department is also planning to roll out fresh and modified protocols to keep the infection spread in check before the relaxations announced by chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday come into effect from March 1. The proposed modification in protocols might include increased testing in several districts and announcement of additional precautions for containing the spread, sources said.
India screening for mutant COVID-19 strain by genome sequencing UK returnees who test positive for virus
India screening for mutant COVID-19 strain by genome sequencing UK returnees who test positive for virus
IANSDec 28, 2020, 15:48 IST
BCCL
genomic surveillance consortium would follow if the
new coronavirus variant, which is more infectious, is detected in the samples of returnees from the United kingdom.
The British Government had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the virus found in their population is up to 70 per cent more transmissible. This had prompted Indian authorities to suspend flights to and from the UK till December 31.
Genomic surveillance consortium charts out action plan to detect mutant Covid-19
By IANS| Published: 28th December 2020 2:54 pm IST
New Delhi, Dec 28 : : The Union Health Ministry on Monday issued a detailed action plan which the genomic surveillance consortium would follow if the new coronavirus variant, which is more infectious, is detected in the samples of returnees from the United kingdom.
The British Government had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the virus found in their population is up to 70 per cent more transmissible. This had prompted Indian authorities to suspend flights to and from the UK till December 31.
Genome sequencing of those who tested positive after coming to India from United kingdom is underway to see if they are carrying the mutant strain. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has been formed to expand whole genome sequencing across the nation.
UK returned man tests positive in Odisha, being tested for new Covid strain hindustantimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hindustantimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.