Featured photo: Workers wear masks at Chennai airport, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Photo: PTI
New Delhi: The Health Ministry on Tuesday said that guidelines for management of bodies infected with novel coronavirus have been formed to define a set of protocols in handling such cases.
In a press briefing, Joint Secretary of the health ministry, Lav Aggarwal, said the COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 137 and the number of deaths stood at three.
He also said that all tests for coronavirus at private laboratories should be offered when prescribed by a qualified physician as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.
(a) Laboratory test should be only offered when prescribed by a qualified physician as per @ICMRDELHI guidance for testing. Since the guidance evolves periodically, the latest revised version should be followed.
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 17, 2020
(e) @ICMRDELHI strongly appeals that private laboratories should offer #COVlD19 diagnosis at no cost.
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 17, 2020
“Private labs testing is to ensure real time reporting to Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the ICMR,” he said.
“Guidelines for dead body management towards precautions, infection prevention and control measures, handling of body and environmental disinfection has been formed.
“The number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 137. Over 5,700 people who came in contact with those that tested positive are under surveillance,” Aggarwal said.