COVID-19 | Health Ministry asks States to do random RT-PCR screening of about 2% of international passengers in each incoming flight

The Health Ministry also advised genomic sequencing of all positive specimens

Random RT-PCR ( Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) screening of about 2% of international passengers in each incoming flight and genomic sequencing of all positive specimens have been advised to States by the Health Ministry aimed at the long-term integration of COVID-19 surveillance within the existing Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) mechanism.

In his letter to State governments, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked them to adhere to the ‘Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID-19’ issued by the Centre on June 9.

The Health secretary said that the revised strategy focused on early detection and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases, and the containment of outbreaks of new coronavirus variants.

As per the revised strategy, all healthcare facilities are to report Influenza Like Illness (ILI) cases, and monitor Severe Acute Respiratory Illness cases in all district hospitals and selected tertiary hospitals and undertake their RT-PCR test for COVID-19. District surveillance officer will be responsible to analyse the data. “5% of ILI cases shall be tested through RT-PCR,’’ the Health Ministry added. 

In addition, revised guidelines also call for sewage and wastewater surveillance which may provide early warnings on the potential local surge of COVID-19, the letter said.

State IDSP are also required to share data on a fortnightly basis and the lab testing for COVID-19 should upload their data on the Indian Council for Medical Research portal. 

“Please ensure that the guidelines are disseminated to all districts, and identified health facilities and labs across the State and their implementation shall be ensured,’’ said the letter.