Serological survey to be conducted in all of Delhi from June 27

New Delhi:  A report on containment strategy on COVID-19 has recommended serological survey in all of Delhi from June 27 to July 10, in which sample testing will be conducted of 20,000 persons to “help in comprehensive assessment of the spread of infection in Delhi” and enable the government to draw up a comprehensive strategy to contain COVID-19 in the national capital.

The report, prepared by a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Vinod Paul, was placed before a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Sunday. Besides Shah, those who were present at the meeting included Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia. The said committee was set up under the directions of the Union Home Minister on June 14.

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The Home Minister advised that the Delhi Chief Minister implement the proposed strategy at the said meeting.

As per the plan proposed by Dr. V.K. Paul every district in Delhi has to be linked to a major hospital, “which will provide adequate help”.

 The main points of the containment strategy determined by Dr. Paul were as follows:

• Revised demarcation of containment zones and a strict monitoring and control of activities in such containment zones. The Union Home Minister advised that Delhi government officials should take technical help for the revised demarcation of Containment Zones.
• Contact Tracing and Quarantining of Contacts of all infected persons, with the help of Aarogya Setu and Itihas Aap.
• Listing and monitoring of each household even outside containment zones so as to get comprehensive information about Delhi.
• Keep the COVID19 positive cases in hospitals, Covid care centres or home isolation. Proper functioning of Covid care centres and taking the help of voluntary organizations/NGOs in this regard.

The proposed report also included a timeline for all of the above mentioned activities based on which the Delhi Government was advised to:

1. Finalize a plan by June 22
2. Constitute district level teams by June 23
3. Issue revised demarcation of all containment zones by June 26
4. Do hundred percent survey of containment zones by June 30 and
5. Do a comprehensive survey of the rest of Delhi by July 6

At the meeting, Shah further directed the Delhi Government to conduct assessment in respect of every dead individual as regards how many days before death the person was brought to hospital and from where. He said special focus had to be given about whether the person was in home isolation and whether the person was brought to hospital at the right time or not. “Every death has to be reported to the Government of India,” he said.

The Home Minister also said that all COVID-19 positive cases had to be  be first referred to Covid centres, and those who had adequate facilities at home and did not suffer from other co-morbidities, could  be allowed to stay in home isolation.

“The Government of India shall also be informed of the number of people kept in home isolation,” he added.

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