As government response and public concern over Covid-19 ratchet up, the medical community is looking at two aspects. First, how much testing is optimal — should we expand it beyond at-risk populations to fl atten the disease curve as South Korea has done, or does mass testing burden the healthcare system? Second, where do India and other countries stand in developing a vaccine?
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
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…
