Arunachal Pradesh government changes SOPs for returnees

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government has made changes in the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) especially for all the returnees to the Capital Complex including personnel of the para-military forces and migrant labourers, keeping in view the spurt in COVID-19 cases in the region, a senior official informed here on Saturday.

As per the new SoPs, the State government would undertake rapid antigen test for all returnees who are even asymptomatic and they have to undergo five days mandatory paid institutional quarantine, Health Secretary P Parthiban told reporters during a virtual press conference here. "All the returnees will have to stay at quarantine facilities for five days and their COVID-19 tests will be conducted on the sixth day," Parthiban said, adding that the new SoPs would be issued by the government soon.

He further said that through the antigen tests, results could be made available within a short period; but if a person is found to be COVID-19 positive, he would have to undergo RT-PCR test for confirmation.

The Secretary further informed that the State government had ordered for 26 TrueNAT machines out of which the state so far had received only 14 machines. "We have already installed seven TrueNAT machines in various laboratories for decentralised testing. Within the next few days, another seven will be installed to reduce the backlogs in various laboratories testing swab samples through RT-PCR," Parthiban informed.

Each TrueNAT machine cost around Rs 14 lakh, he said, adding that unlike the traditional RT-PCR tests, the sample preparation in TrueNAT tests is automated, and the results are available within half an hour. "So far, the State government is bearing the expenditure for antigen test of the returnees. An antigen test kit comes around Rs 450; and the laboratories in Delhi charge an amount of Rs 2,400 per test which is approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)," he said adding, however, the contractors who are bringing labourers to the State have to bear the expenditure for the antigen tests.

When asked about the medicine being used to treat the COVID-19 patients in the State, the Health secretary disclosed that two anti-viral drugs namely 'Remdesivir' and 'Tocilizumab' are being used for treating the infected patients with mild symptoms. "We have 150 vials of Remdesivir and another 100 vials of Tocilizumab at stock. We're planning to purchase more," Parthiban disclosed, adding that these two drugs are in high pan-India demand; and are being manufactured by two pharma companies – Cipla and Hetero healthcare Ltd.

When asked about extension of the lockdown in the Capital Complex comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa, the Health Secretary informed that the State government had sought an action plan from the Capital administration on the steps to contain the spread of the pandemic; and will take a decision accordingly on extension of the lockdown. "The capital DC is on the job and will submit it to the government for necessary action," he said and added that the Health department had recommended the State Cabinet on Friday to extend the lockdown.

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