GUWAHATI: The Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended the Assam government to change its testing pattern and target about 10000 tests per day, given the surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Guwahati, particularly in the past five days.
Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Union home minister Amit Shah had informed him over telephone that following an assessment, it has been found that the COVID scene in Guwahati has become very critical and that the ICMR has indicated that the surge over the past few days appears similar to that of Delhi and Mumbai.
“Subsequently, the director general, ICMR had a video conference with our principal secretary, health and suggested a new testing model – Q COVID-19 Ag test – through which only nasal swabs would be collected and the results would be obtained in about an hour. We are procuring 2 lakh Q COVID-19 Ag kits and training of medical staff in regard to the new module shall commence from tomorrow so that the tests can be conducted within the next two days,” Sarma said.
The minister pointed out that the new kits are moderately sensitive and that people can undergo tests at the points of care.
The city currently has close to 1400 COVID-19 positive cases with as many as 1212 cases detected over the past week.
He further said that the Union home minister has suggested 10000 tests every day in order to keep pace with the spread of the virus given that the city has entered a critical phase (of community transmission) now.
“If a person tests negative under this method but the symptoms remain, then an RT-PCR should be done to confirm the result. Even as 10000 tests per day would be difficult for a start, we would initially target between 2000 and 4000 tests per day, and going ahead, will target the figure recommended,” Sarma said.
Assam has already conducted 4 lakh tests for the virus on June 30.
“As many as 382 positive cases were detected in the city yesterday. So the situation here is very critical and it is therefore imperative that people take utmost care,” he said.
The minister said that the new method of tests along with RT-PCR tests would further speed up detection of cases in the state. “We expect to separate all the positive cases by July 10,” he added.
Transmission
Sarma further said that it has been found upon assessment that the reason for the surge in transmission of the virus is that people do not isolate themselves after giving swabs for tests and instead roam around the city.
“Such people become super spreaders as it is mandatory for them to isolate themselves from society for a about four days at least as the outcome will only be known by that time. Such behaviour is like a criminal offence,” he said.
Hospital beds
The health minister said that about 3000 hospital beds would be required in the city given the surge in COVID positive cases.
“We have a 300-bed hospital at Patanjali Yogpeeth and today, we will open the 800-bed hospital at Khanapara. The Maniram Dewan Trade Centre is being converted into a COVID hospital and would be opened tomorrow. So, as on date, we have 1538 beds of which 987 are occupied,” Sarma said.
Plasma bank
The state health department is also developing a plasma bank by collecting plasma from cured symptomatic patients.
“By next week, we shall begin plasma treatment,” the health minister said.
New website
Meanwhile, a new website, www.covidassam.in would be launched on Thursday from where RT-PCR test reports could be downloaded by sharing the sample referral form (SRF) number.
“As on date, 3.42 lakh results out of 4.17 lakh tests will be available in the website,” Sarma said.