Thread by @MoHFW_INDIA

Happening now:

Media briefing on actions taken, preparedness & updates for the management of #COVID19


#HelpUsToHelpYou
@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @AshwiniKChoubey @MIB_India @PIB_India @DG_PIB @MEAIndia @MoCA_GoI @shipmin_india @tourismgoi @mygovindia

In continuation of Travel Advisories issued on 11th and 16th March 2020, following additional advisory issued today.

(a) Travel of passengers from #Afghanistan, #Philippines and #Malaysia to #India is prohibited with immediate effect. No flight shall take off from these countries to India after 1500 hours IST. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.

(b) This instruction is a temporary measure and shall be in force till 31st March 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently

Guidelines on Clinical Management of #COVID19 triage (early recognition of patients), implementation of infection prevention and control measures have been revised and updated. For more information please click,
mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guidelines…

Guidelines have been issued for Dead Body Management towards standard precautions, infection prevention and control measures, handling of the body and environmental disinfection. For more information please click,
mohfw.gov.in/pdf/1584423700…

.@ICMRDELHI Guidelines have also been issued for Private Sector Laboratories Intending to Initiate #COVID19 Testing.
icmr.nic.in/sites/default/…

(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.

(b) @ICMRDELHI will share the SOPs for laboratory testing and provide positive controls for establishing the test as soon as the concerned private laboratory has procured the primers, probes and reagents as per SOPs...

...Adoption of commercial kits for testing should be based on validations conducted by @ICMRDELHI -National institute of Virology (NIV), #Pune.

(c) Appropriate biosafety and biosecurity precautions should be ensured while collecting samples from a suspect patient. Alternatively, a disease specific separate collection site may be created.

(d) All the private testing laboratories to ensure immediate/ real-time reporting to the State officials of IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program of Govt. of India) and ICMR HQ for timely initiation of contact tracing and research activities.

(e) @ICMRDELHI strongly appeals that private laboratories should offer #COVlD19 diagnosis at no cost.

.@DoPTGoI has issued advisory citing preventive measures to be taken by all employees of Ministries/ Departments to control the spread of #COVID19.
dopt.gov.in/sites/default/…
All Ministries/ Departments have been advised to:

(a) Install thermal scanners at entry of government building as feasible. Mandatorily place hand sanitizers at entry points. Those found with flu-like symptoms may be advised to take proper treatment/quarantine etc.

(b) Discourage, to the maximum extent possible, entry of visitors to the office complex.

(c) Meetings, as far as feasible, should be done through video conferencing and avoid meetings involving large number of people

(d) Avoid non-essential official travel.

(e) Undertake essential correspondence on official email and avoid sending files and documents to other offices, to the extent possible.

(f) Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitization of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces.

(g) Look out for respiratory symptoms/fever and, if feeling unwell, should leave the workplace immediately after informing the reporting officers.

(h) Advise all employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions and not to expose such employees to any direct contact with the public, to mention a few of them.