Separate isolation unit for international passengers who test positive for a new variant of the coronavirus
The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) estimates that the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reported in the United Kingdom, is more transmissible and affects a younger population, the Ministry of Health of the Union, while publishing his report. SOP (standard operating procedure) for epidemiological surveillance and response to the new variant.
“This variant is defined by a set of 17 changes or mutations, and changes in this part of the spike protein can make the virus more infectious and spread more easily between people,” the Ministry said.
In its latest SOP, the Ministry has said that if genomic sequencing of a COVID-19 positive UK patient indicates the presence of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant, then the patient will remain in a separate isolation unit for as long as necessary. Treatment will be given according to the existing protocol.
International travelers from the UK who arrived in India from November 25 to December 8, 2020 (the first and second week starting November 25) will be contacted by the district surveillance officers and recommended to monitor your health. If any of them develop symptoms, the RT-PCR test will be performed and standard follow-up actions will be initiated.
He added that if any passenger is not traceable initially or for any time during the follow-up, they must be immediately notified to the Central Surveillance Unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) by the District Surveillance Officer.
“This SOP outlines the activities that will take place at the point of entry and in the community for all international passengers who have traveled or transited through the UK in the last four weeks (25 November to 23 December 2020 ), ”Said a senior health official.
He added that all passengers coming from the UK during the interim period of December 21-23 will undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival, and in case of a positive sample, it is recommended that the RT-PCR test Gene-based spike should also be performed by an appropriate laboratory.
The SOP explains that passengers who test positive will be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in a separate unit (isolation) coordinated by the respective State Health Authorities. They would allocate specific facilities for said isolation and treatment.
“The action required to send samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune or any other appropriate laboratory for genomic sequencing will begin at the facility level. If the sequencing report is consistent with the current genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in the country, the continuous treatment protocol that includes isolation / home treatment at the facility level can be followed according to the severity of the case ” , notes the SOP.
However, if genomic sequencing indicates the presence of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, then the patient will continue to remain in a separate isolation unit while the necessary treatment is administered according to the existing protocol, the patient will be examined at the 14th day, after having tested positive in the initial test. If the sample tests positive on day 14, an additional sample can be taken until the person’s two consecutive samples taken 24 hours apart have tested negative, he added.
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