Only symptomatic persons will henceforth be tested for Covid-19 at the government health centres and private clinics while asymptomatic persons may test voluntarily.
In an advisory to all deputy commissioners, Health Principal Secretary, Sampath Kumar expressed concern over the significant footfall in the OPD/IPD patients in the PHCs/CHCs and private clinics due to testing of patients visiting the hospitals as part of the active surveillance.
Kumar said though the exercise has proven to be beneficial in tracing and tracking many unknown cases, it has also created apprehension in people from exercising positive health seeking behaviour
He also informed that patients reporting from the clusters/containment zones may also be advised to test to prevent further spread.
“The entire exercise may be treated as voluntary and not made mandatory henceforth. The priority is to ensure that, all patients in need seek medical help without any fear or dread and get early diagnosis and treatment as required,” he added.
