Screening of migrant labourers must
S. A. S. Nagar, April 25, 2020: Issuing instructions pertaining to RT-PCR Testing strategy for COVID-19, the District Magistrate , Girish Dayalan ordered that the sample collection shall be started at all flu corners of the sub division hospitals in District by 26th April, 2020, in addition to the district hospital. The Civil Surgeon of the district would identify CHCs / PHCs with high OPD footfall to screen patients for Influenza like Illness (ILI) symptoms and depute RT-PCR teams for samples collection.
He further ordered that rapid response teams would conduct surveillance for cases of ILI and take samples for RT-PCR from hotspots, slums, brick kilns. Portable closed chambers (kiosks) can be used for samples collection and the screening of migrant labourers must be done.
Divulging more, he said that the pregnant women who are in labour and living in clusters/containment or in large migration gatherings or evacuee centres from hotspot districts presenting in Labour or likely to deliver in next 5 days, must be tested even if asymptomatic. They should be tested in the health facilities where they are expected to deliver. Besides, random sampling be conducted to check possibility of community transmission.
Collected samples are to be sent to the designated labs on the same day and no delays should occur in transport of these samples at any cost. All the private hospitals of the district are to inform the District Epidemiologist about the same.