With the Covid-19 cases witnessing rapid surge in Chandigarh, the UT Administration has begun antigen testing in the city.
For this, 5500 kits of antigen testing have been procured. Initially, the Administration has planned to utilize these kits for extensive testing of samples, particularly among health officials, police personnel, municipal officials and vendors in the grain market here.
An antigen is a protein (in this case present on the virus) that induces an immune response in the body in the form of production of antibodies against a disease, and detecting its presence through an antigen-based test determines a present infection.
As the antigen tests are faster and less expensive than molecular tests are, experts consider antigen tests more practical to use for large numbers of people.
Till the evening, out of 37 rapid-antigen tests done, a 16-year-old boy, who is a resident of Bapu Dham colony was tested positive for Covid-19. A resident of Punjab was also found positive of Covid-19 through antigen testing.
Notably, Delhi was the first state to start antigen based Covid-19 testing and other states that have deployed antigen testing in a significant way include Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana among others.
Two micro-containment zones declared in UT
In an order issued on Monday, the UT Administration has declared six houses in Pipliwala Town in Manimajra and a residential block of EWS Colony Dhanas as the new micro-containment zones. UT Home-cum-Health Secretary Arun Kumar Gupta told The Pioneer that the perimeter control in the micro-containment zone will remain in place for 14 days starting from the last positive case detected in such zones. The micro-containment zone policy of Chandigarh has been prepared on the pattern of the Punjab Government. Under the policy, few houses will be demarcated as micro-containment zones from where a high number of positive cases are being reported.
Administrator directs to start dedicated dialysis facility for COVID-19 patients
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has directed the Administration to start a dedicated dialysis facility for COVID-19 patients, who require regular dialysis. “This will reduce burden on PGIMER and all such COVID patients, who require regular dialysis may contact Director Principal, GMCH-32,” he said during his review meeting with senior UT officers on Monday. In view of the surge of positive cases, the Administrator also directed the Administration to identify additional facility, where COVID-19 patients could be accommodated, as and when such additional facilities will be required. He said that Community Halls located away from residential areas could be utilized for the purpose.
PGIMER raises issue of being overburdened
During the meeting with UT Administrator, the senior doctors from the PGIMER complained that many patients from Punjab, Haryana and neighboring states are coming to the emergency ward and when found positive, they have to be accommodated in Nehru Hospital Extension, PGIMER. The PGIMER requested the Administrator to take up with the neighbouring states this issue of overcrowding of PGIMER by the patients, who could be locally treated, instead of being brought to PGIMER. On this, the Administrator advised the Director PGIMER to hold regular meetings with Health Directors of neighbouring states and follow a proper protocol in receiving patients from other states.