Village clinics to have rapid antigen self-test kits, medicine to face Covid-19

VIJAYAWADA: Following the advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry over a recent spurt in Covid-19 cases and detection of the JN.1 variant, the AP government is taking preventive measures across the state.

There, however, is no cause for alarm, officials said, adding that the state health department has initiated a door-to-door fever survey to detect suspected Covid cases.

Special chief secretary to Health, Krishna Babu, held a review meeting with officials on Tuesday. He directed them to store Rapid Antigen self-test kits and necessary medicines at all village level clinics. Health officials, however, made it clear that “the virulence of the new variant is less and there were only a few hospitalizations so far.

Krishna Babu advised the DME and MD of APMSIDC to ensure that all the RTPCR labs in GGHs are activated and that these must do a minimum of 1,000 tests per day. Sufficient rapid test kits would be reached to all village health clinics. “RTPCR test will be mandatorily conducted on all the patients with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) / influenza-like illness (ILI). Necessary drugs, PPE equipment like gloves, masks, sanitizers etc would be provided to all the hospitals,” he said.

He said oxygen supply plants like LMO, PSA, oxygen concentrators, D-type cylinders and ventilators in government hospitals will be made fully functional.

Krishna Babu advised people with fever, cough etc to stay under home isolation and avoid contact with others. In view of the various festivals in the coming days, precaution must be taken to follow Covid- appropriate behaviour at large gatherings. He stated that people returning from Sabarimala and other parts of Kerala must maintain caution. If they are having symptoms of SARI/ILI they should get tested at the nearest village health clinic.