CM directs authorites to open testing labs in each district

Amaravati, Apr 5 (): As the number of coronaviruscases has been escalating at a rapid pace across the state dueto transmission from Tablighi Jamaat attendees, Andhra PradeshChief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday directed theauthorities to open testing labs in each district and alsocreate isolation wards in all hospitals.

Of the total 220 active Coronavirus cases in the state ason Sunday, close to 90 per cent relate to the Jamaatparticipants and their close contacts.

The Chief Minister asked the health authorities toimmediately complete testing of all those who returned fromthe Tablighi Jamaat congregation and their primary contacts.

In the next step, the secondary contacts of the Jamaatattendees should be tested, he said at a high-level reviewmeeting on COVID-19. Special Chief Secretary (Health) K S Jawahar Reddyinformed the Chief Minister that seven labs were working inthe state with a capacity to test over 900 blood samples perday.

He said steps were being taken to increase the testingcapacity of the labs in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

Jawahar Reddy explained about the special approachundertaken on an experimental basis in Visakhapatnam city,where the identified red zones (having Corona positivepatients) were divided into eight clusters and 20 samples weretested on a random basis from each cluster.

Those who returned from abroad and persons in the high-risk age groups (below 10 and above 65 years) were chosen atrandom and their blood samples were tested.

"All these samples turned negative in the tests," theSpecial CS said.

The Chief Minister then asked the Special CS to set up alab in every district as the number of cases was mounting.

Jagan directed the officials to ensure the lockdownguidelines were scrupulously followed, particularly in theidentified red zones and hotspots.

He also asked them to be prepared to implement any freshguidelines from the Centre after the lockdown period ends onApril 14. Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, Director General of PoliceD G Sawang, Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash and othersenior officials attended. DBV APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH