ICMR’S TESTING STRATEGY
- Body had earlier said there is no community transmission
- Disease primarily in individuals with travel history to affected countries or via close contact with positive cases
- Everyone needn’t be tested, it had said earlier
- However, ICMR had conducted random tests on people with flu-like symptoms
- Results likely to come in on Wednesday
SO WHOM TO TEST?
- Individuals in close contact with laboratory-confirmed cases
- History of travel to affected countries in previous 14 days
- Home quarantine for 14 days
- Symptom watch for 14 day
- If no, no testing
THIS APPROACH DIFFERS FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS SOUTH KOREA, WHICH DID MASS TESTING
INDIVIDUALS TESTED
- India-6,500
- China-320,000
- Italy-86,011
- South Korea-248,647
- Korea US-13,624
SOME DIFFER
Experts such as Gagandeep Kang of Translational Health Science & Tech Institute say testing should move beyond at-risk groups
WHERE ARE TESTS HAPPENING; AT WHAT COST?
- Govt-approved testing facilities: 71
- Cost of PCR testing quoted by govt: Rs 5,000 per test
- Cost at pvt diagnostic centres: Rs 8,000-10,000 per test
- Many large pvt players say they are ready to carry out PCR tests
KERALA REVISES TESTING GUIDELINES
- State says 70-80% of affected will develop only mild symptoms, not require hospitalisation
- Has asked those with mild symptoms not to get tested
- Patients with breathlessness, chest pain, fall in blood pressure, respiratory distress must go for tests
WHERE ARE WE ON A VACCINE?
- WHO approves anti-malarial drug Chloroquine
- Also, anti-retrovirals Lopinavir, Ritonavir, Darunavir, Ribavirin, Favipiravir, and Remdesivir (not approved yet)
- In India, Serum Institute and Zydus Cadila have vaccines under development
- Mumbai-based Lasa Supergenerics says it is developing Favipiravir
- US-based Moderna’s vaccine candidate went on human clinical trials last week
- Norway-based CEPI** has funded vaccine candidates for firms such as Innovia and CureVac, as well as University of Queensland
- US’ BARDA# & Regeneron too working on vaccines
CORONA-METER
Over 170,000 individuals across the world have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 6,509 have died, with cases and deaths outside China overtaking those in that country…
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