Delhi govt revises Covid testing strategy, will focus on symptomatic cases; Details here

In a major development, Delhi government has revised its COVID-19 testing strategy on Wednesday, informed Director-General of heath in national capital. new guideline states that all symptomatic individuals with a history of international travel in last 14 days, those who are contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases, healthcare workers, or frontline workers in containment areas will be tested. It adds that all symptomatic patients with Severe acute respiratory infection will be tested. However, even as transport facilities have opened up in fifth phase of lockdown, new guideline says that migrants or returnees from or places will only be tested if y are symptomatic, within 7 days of illness. focus in current guideline has been given to symptomatic cases amid reports about short of beds in Delhi hospitals.

Meanwhile, a day earlier Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched 'Delhi Corona' app which will have information regarding availably of beds in hospitals across national capital.

READ | Kejriwal launches 'Delhi Corona' app providing status of hospital beds & ventilators

READ |  Highest spike of 1,298 COVID cases takes tally to over 22K in Delhi; death toll 556

Delhi Covid-19 tally

On Tuesday, in a record single-day spike, Delhi reported 1,298 fresh cases taking total tally to over 22,000 and death toll due to disease mounted to 556. previous highest spike in fresh cases -- 1,295 -- was recorded on May 31. In a bulletin issued on Tuesday, Delhi health department said death toll due to coronavirus has risen to 556 in national capital and total number of cases has mounted to 22,132. It, however, added that cumulative death figure only refers to fatalities where primary cause of death was found to be COVID-19, according to a report of Death Audit Committee on basis of case-sheets received from various hospitals.

' Covid test if patient is dead'

Earlier on Sunday, Delhi government issued a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling bodies of Covid-19 patients. It stated that coronavirus test will be conducted if patient after death. new guidelines mentioned three requirements to identify an individual as a Covid-19 fatality — person tested positive for Covid-19 before death, positive test was based on a sample taken when he/she was alive and person was admitted to hospital with severe symptoms of Covid-19 or doctors categorised him/her as a Covid-19 suspect. However, it mentioned: “ sample for COVID-19 test will be taken of dead body”. 

READ | Delhi municipal bodies to provide PPE kits to staff working at cremation sites

5-point strategy of Delhi government

On April 7,  Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal informed formation of a 5-point strategy to control spread of COVID-19 infection in Delhi. five T’s were testing, tracing, treatment, teamwork, tracking. CM had said that first 'T' i.e 'testing', in it Delhi will conduct tests on lines of South Korea. second 'T' i.e tracing, primary contacts of COVID patients were traced. third was treatment in which a list of hospitals was given. For 'teamwork', CM had said that opposition and ruling parties across country must work as a team to fight virus.  For last 'T' i.e. 'tracking', he said police health workers would undertake a massive tracking to contain virus.

READ | Invative sanitisation mechanism to keep Delhi cops safe from COVID-19