ICMR asks States to stop using rapid tests

22/04/2020

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has written to the Health Departments of all States/U.T.s to ensure adequate availability of blood in banks in particular, for people in need of regular transfusion with blood disorders, Mr. Agarwal said.

“Portal ‘e-RaktKosh’ needs to be used for the real-time status monitoring of the current stock of each blood group. As part of the collaborative approach for COVID-19 management, Indian Red Cross has started a 24X7 control room in Delhi for blood services. The numbers are: 011-23359379, 93199 82104, 93199 82105,’’ the Health Ministry said.

Addressing the problem of hospitals getting closed as some healthcare workers are becoming positive and some patients admitted for unrelated disease in non-COVID-19 hospitals becoming positive, the Ministry has issued guidelines for detection of such cases in non-COVID-19 health facilities.

“The hospital infection control committee is now responsible for monitoring such issues. It shall ensure that the healthcare workers are oriented on infection prevention and control guidelines. Local health authorities have to be informed about the cases and transfer the patients to be treated in isolation for COVID-19. Such patients should be masked and only dedicated healthcare workers should attend these cases,’’ Mr. Agarwal said, adding, “All close contacts shall be put on HCQ for a period of 7 weeks keeping in mind the contraindications of HCQ also”.

(With inputs from

Mohammed Iqbal)