New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has urged state governments, public, and private institutions and hospitals to ‘scale-up testing for COVID-19’ in view of the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country.
The apex body of biomedical research has said that the only way to prevent the spread of the virus is ‘test, track and treat’.
“It is imperative that testing should be made available to all symptomatic individuals in every part of the country and contact tracing mechanisms for containment of infection are further strengthened,” said ICMR in a tweet.
ICMR advises all concerned State Governments, Public and Private Institutions/Hospitals to take required steps to scale up testing for COVID-19. #IndiaFightsCorona #COVID19India @DeptHealthRes @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/aNcr5uq0fk
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) June 23, 2020
It has also asked all organisations to use antibody testing as a surveillance measure, including real-time RT-PCR, rapid antigen testing for detection of cases, and antibody testing for serosurvey.
India currently stands at number four with 4.5 lakh cases detected. Globally, more than 93 lakh people have been infected and 4.79 lakh people have died due to the pandemic.