Coronavirus, who should get tested?
A newly discovered virus causes an infectious disease,
Covid-19. Typically, the coronavirus affects the respiratory tracts of birds
and mammals. According to Marc Lipsitch, Public Health epidemiologist, the
virus could ultimately infect between 40% to 70% of the worldwide human
population in the coming year, 2021. The Centers for Disease has released guidelines
for who should get tested, but decisions about testing are made by state and
local health departments or healthcare providers.
Symptomatic
of Covid-19
If you have symptoms of a lower respiratory tract
infection, including a significant cough, shortness of breath and fever, then
go and visit a doctor right away. The decision will be made by the doctor
whether you fall in the category of being tested or the symptoms are due to
other illness. It can be symptoms of other infections as other pathogen in the
community can cause similar symptoms than a specific virus.
In case, a person has symptoms as he has come in
contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus will be considered for testing. Or
even when one is in direct contact of coronavirus patients and have co-
morbidities will be tested between on day and day 10 of coming in contact. The
co- morbidities listed are diabetes, hypertension, cancer and senior citizens
over the age of 60 years.
Travel
history
All individuals with an international travel history
in last 14 days will be tested. Migrants or returners from other states will be
tested. They will again be tested within 7 days, if they are symptomatic.
Quarantined
people
People in government quarantine will be tested seven
days once even if they have tested negative on the first day and without
symptoms. On the discharge day of quarantine also, they will be tested. People
under home quarantine will also tested in the similar protocol.
Warriors
The front- line workers and healthcare workers involved
in mitigation of coronavirus patients are recommended testing. All the police
officials, doctors, nurses, supporting staff are advised for testing. Doctors
are authorised to take their own nasal swabs test for Covid-19, the nurses need
the signature of a doctor for the test to be conducted on them. A nodal officer
is appointed who is responsible to address the infection amongst health
workers.
Hospitalized
patients
Hospitalized patients who develop fever and cough with
acute respiratory infection will be tested. A person is subjected to testing who
has s severe acute respiratory syndrome along with pneumonia and is been
hospitalized for the same.
Zone
affect
All the symptomatic patients within the hotspots and
containment zones. If an area is sealed or locked down then, the region
residents are under regular testing in case of any symptoms. The neighbourhood
residents of a sealed down house are also subjected to frequent testing.
Exceptional
cases
Some categories require immediate medical attention in
a hospital namely, pregnant women and persons over 75 years of age. These
categories claiming medical emergency will be subjected to testing by a medical
team to confirm the emergency.
Random
sampling
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) updated
on conducting community surveillance by testing random samples of people.
Public has to be supportive to the steps taken by the government. Later, Union
Health Ministry’s Joint Secretary, Lav Aggarwal, said, “Random sampling for
Covid-19 is waste of time”.
Anyone who test positive will be immediately admitted
to hospital. In case, any individual is suspicious about the symptoms is suggested
to head to the hospital. Every private hospital is advised to report cases
which show high risk of the viral infection.
Being tested doesn’t imply
one is infected with coronavirus, it’s just a procedure to be undertaken for
one- self and others safety. In case the symptoms are mild or of other pathogen
then don’t rush to the hospitals immediately, consult one of best healthcareservice provider in India and seek advice. One can avail their prescriptions
through any medical store home delivery prevision.
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