AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, April 17 (TIWN): Tripura Health Dept is taking all measures to ensure proper testing, post treatment of all COVID19 suspected people, if found positive in the state. Addressing media, Law Minister Ratanlal Nath said, “In today’s date, in our state total 465 people are in Home Quarantine, in Institutional Quarantine 142, total 10,798 persons are in surveillance and 14 days of surveillance completed by 10191 people. Till now sample collection of 865 persons took place, total sample tested 762, sample positive 2 and negative 760. Out of the total 2 positive tests, one person in institutional quarantine at Udaipur and the other patient is under treatment. Both the patients are enough stable”. “Apart from that, Community level testing will be taken place by 21/4/2020 for 2000 people and rapid anti-body tests will be undertaken at Udaipur and Damchara centering 1 km area of the both patients residential points. Out of total population, 10% people will be tested”, said the Law Minister.

“Prescribed masks are now mandatory, PPE is for health care officials. Officials will be wearing also prescribed masks which are at enough numbers in this state. For the front line health workers of COVID19, Govt is thinking further. A committee has been formed led by Dr. Kamal Krishna Baidya, Dr. Dip Debbarma, Dr Shankar Chakraborty and the team is working in that direction. Because, these health workers are working amid massive risks”, said Ratanlal Nath.

“All ILI (Influenza-like Illness) SARI (Severe acute Respiratory Infections) will be tracked”, said Ratanlal Nath.

Details about ILI and SARI prescribed by WHO

The WHO global influenza surveillance standards define the surveillance case definitions for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).

Key messages when using the case definitions:

1. Influenza infection causes a clinical syndrome not easily distinguished from other respiratory infections.
2. The case definitions for ILI and SARI are not necessarily intended to capture all cases but to describe trends over time.
3. Using one common case definition globally will allow national health authorities to interpret their data in an international context.