In view of the second wave of COVID19 pandemic, the Nagaland government has asked all district task forces to conduct random sampling and testing for COVID19.
In an advisory, the health directorate of Nagaland has asked the district task forces to assess the trend of the COVID19 transmission and prevalence in the community through the random tests of COVID19.
The advisory was issued on April 3 by Dr Kevichusa Medikhru, principal director of the directorate of health and family welfare, Nagaland.
As per the advisory, the risk groups include shopkeepers in crowded market, shopping complex & business establishment; street vendors; drivers/operators of bars/taxi/auto rickshaws/rickshaws; restaurant and hotel employees.
The teachers/students of various institutions; inmates of hostels/prisons; offices and faith leaders are also in the risk groups.
The district task forces have been advised to conduct the tests for COVID19 in coordination with respective associations/unions and authorities.
For the risk groups, mentioned above, the health department has advised to conduct Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
“RAT negatives to be mandatorily subjected to RT-PCR/Truenat tests,” the advisory said.
The health directorate of Nagaland has advised to conduct RT-PCR/Truenat test for all indoor patients upon admission in all hospitals.
According to the advisory, RAT test should be done for point of entries from time to time.
The testing for such risk groups shall be free of cost, the advisory said.
“During the sampling for random screening tests, the contact details of all close contacts such as co-travellers, customers, present, patient attendants, inmates, etc. are to be collected compulsorily, so as to ensure 25-30 such close contacts to be traced for each infected person,” the advisory said.
“Tracing and their isolation to be done in 72 hours. Subsequent testing and follow-up of all close contacts to be carried out,” it added.