There are 72 functional Indian Council of Medical Research laboratories conducting tests for coronavirus and private NABL-accredited labs will soon be operationalised across the country, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava on Tuesday said.
He also appealed to all private laboratories to offer COVID-19 diagnosis free of cost.
"We have 72 functional ICMR laboratories in government sector for testing and 49 more will be active by the end of the month," he said.
Bhargava said that India was in stage 2 or local transmission of the virus.
"All asymptomatic patients who have taken international flights in the past 14 days should get tested as per current protocol if they develop symptoms," he said.
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He said that Coronavirus in India is in the local transmission stage and has not yet moved to the third stage -- community transmission.
"There are 4 stages. The third stage is community transmission which we hope we shouldn't have. It would depend on how strongly we close our international borders, in terms of which the government has taken very proactive steps. But can't say that community transmission won't happen," he said.
He also said that symptomatic people who come in close contact with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases must be tested, adding and all healthcare workers managing the respiratory condition of patients should be tested too if symptomatic.
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"Private NABL accredited laboratories will soon be operationalised," Bhargava said.
ICMR was approached by several private players who want to contribute and talks are on with 51 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited private laboratories.
