Now, no repeat test if already +ve in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 7

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The Punjab Government today issued a new advisory for Covid-19 testing during the second wave of pandemic.

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the Indian Council of Medical Research had issued fresh guidelines wherein measures to optimise the RT-PCR testing and simultaneously improve access and availability of testing had been communicated.

Recommending the measures to optimise RT-PCR testing, he said now, the test must not be repeated in any individual who had tested positive once either by rapid antigen test (RAT) or RT-PCR.

Similarly, no testing is required for Covid-19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge in accordance with the discharge policy of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Sidhu said at present the laboratories were facing challenges to meet the expected testing target due to extraordinary caseload and staff getting infected with Covid-19.

In view of this, it was imperative to optimise the RT-PCR testing and increase the access and availability of testing to all citizens. — TNS