The Union Health Ministry on Saturday carried out a training on critical care management at 1,000 locations in hospitals through video conference, and also said it will conduct a nationwide mock drill on Sunday for emergency response to handle COVID-19 cases.
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal told reporters that the government is likely to issue detailed order on the price cap and other aspects of testing of COVID-19 by private labs and emphasised that people should not go for coronavirus tests "out of fashion" or for "confidence-building".
"It is very important to understand that testing should be done as per the defined protocols," he said, adding that 111 labsacross the country have been made functional to test for coronavirus infection.
Urging the people toobserve 'janata curfew' on Sunday as pitched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Agarwal asserted that social distancing is an important intervention to break the chain of transmission and urged the people, barring those engaged in essential activities, not to get out of their homes.
"The time is about showing collective resilience to fight together. It's not about force, it is about coming together that are we ready as community, we are looking for unity in isolation," he said.
He also clarified that in the current scenario, no question of lockdown arises and the aim is to focus on prevention approach and measures to contain the spread of the virus.
He also urged the people to thank all those in essential services by clapping hands and ringing bells in doorways, balconies and windows at 5 pm on Sunday to show gratitude as called upon by the prime minister.
Agarwal told reporters that guidelines forCOVID-19 testing in Indiahave been revised according to whichasymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in his/her contact.
All hospitalised patients with severe acute respiratory illness having symptoms of fever and cough and/or shortness of breath will henceforth be also tested for coronavirus infection, accordingto the revised strategy of COVID19 testing in India issued by the Indian Council of Medical Resarch(ICMR) on Saturday.
He also asked the people to steer away from fake news and misinformation
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