The primary reason for the government seeking to retain its control on the testing regime, however, is fear of wider exposure. The possibility of profiteering is one concern. While the government is working with private hospitals to develop standard operating procedures for treatment and isolation of patients, there is no move yet for the testing process to be opened up for the private sector. So, does India’s latest move mean opening up testing to the private sector? India has also suspended visas to foreign nationals and the facility of visa-free travel to OCI card-holders. On the other hand, some of the cases in Agra had neither any history of foreign travel nor had they come directly in contact with an infected person.Īnother level is imported transmission, for which the protocol is vigilance at the borders and airports, such as thermal screening and quarantine if required, like India began early on. So far, most of the cases in India have had a history of travel abroad - for example, the Kerala and Delhi patients - or have contracted the disease from somebody around them - for example, the Italian touristin Jaipur who ended up infecting 17 in the group including their Indian driver. What is known about the level of transmission in India? One unknown source of infection can wreak havoc - one woman in South Korea, who refused to take the test, has been found to have ended up infecting over 160 people. Once community transmission begins, it is more difficult to trace contacts. India’s current emphasis on social distancing and discouragement of public gatherings, too, is aimed at checking community transmission.Īlso Read | ICMR senior scientist: ‘Have 1.5 lakh test kits and have ordered 1 million more’ That is what ICMR is trying to find out by testing over 1,000 samples from people suffering from influenza-like symptoms but with no history of such travel or contact. Simply put, community transmission means that a virus is circulating in the community and can affect people with no history of travel to affected areas or of contact with an infected person. It is one of the levels of transmission defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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