Telangana to adopt new ICMR guidelines

The revised strategy for Covid-19 testing, which was released by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday, will be strictly implemented in Telangana, Health Minister Eatala Rajender said.

All symptomatic migrants and foreign returnees who came back to the State, front line workers from different government departments including health, police and municipal staff who are involved in the containment and mitigation of Covid-19 will be tested, Rajender said at a review meeting with senior health officials on Tuesday.

We will strive hard to implement the revised testing guidelines of ICMR across Telangana immediately. Fever surveys are already under way in villages across the State. The Health Department will ensure migrants and foreign returnees comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in their respective native districts,” he said.

Rajender directed health officials to provide separate consultation facilities to patients at fever clinics and those in the outpatient departments in



government hospitals. “Ensure no cross-infection takes place between patients having coronavirus symptoms and non-Covid patients,” he said.

With people coming out in large numbers due to the lockdown exemptions, Rajender urged general public to be on alert and follow all precautions like wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing and washing hands frequently.

“Families with children and elderly should be very cautious at this stage. Individuals must seek medical help if they develop cough and fever. Till we have access to a vaccine, we must learn to live with the coronavirus,” he said.

The Minister reviewed the health care services at Gandhi Hospital and spoke to the Superintendent, Dr. Raja Rao over phone and asked to focus on high-risk Covid-19 positive patients, who have co-morbid conditions. Rajender reviewed availability of life saving medicines and also medical oxygen, which is for Covid-19 positive patients, at district and village level across the State.