NEW DELHI: The government expanded its RT-PCR testing for Covid-19— considered definitive in confirming the disease — to cover all symptomatic people in hotspot areas, clusters and large migration gatherings or evacuee centres within seven days of reporting sick. The protocol states that after a week of symptoms, an antibody test can be done followed by a confirmatory RT-PCR if the results are negative.
“We have revised the testing strategy to include all symptomatic people,” Manoj Murhekar from Indian Council of Medical Research said. The symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and difficulty in breathing.
Last week, the government issued an a