TS to conduct Covid test for all patients with flu symptoms

Health Minister directed health officials to ensure all walk-in patients with flu-like symptoms at Government healthcare facilities mandatorily undergo Covid-19 tests

Hyderabad: Rapid antigen tests to detect Covid-19 will be conducted for all patients with flu-like symptoms in the State. Health Minister Eatala Rajender, while reviewing the preparedness for seasonal ailments, has directed health officials to ensure all walk-in patients with flu-like symptoms at Government healthcare facilities mandatorily undergo Covid-19 tests.

The overlapping symptoms of seasonal influenza and Covid-19 could potentially lead to a situation where patients with coronavirus can go undetected or wrongly diagnosed if they don’t undergo Covid-19 tests. To avoid such situations, the authorities have decided to conduct Covid-19 tests.

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Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao, while interacting with the Minister, said efforts are on to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 in the relief camps. Already, authorities have conducted Covid-19 tests on 3,406 suspected individuals of which 90 persons have tested Covid-19 positive.

In the last five days, the health department organised 585 health camps, rolled out 50 mobile camps and treated 38,516 persons in areas under the GHMC. About 30,367 masks and 2,795 sanitisers were distributed at the health and relief camps. Rajender directed authorities to ensure doctors and other healthcare workers are available round-the-clock in Basthi Dawakhanas and urban primary health centres.

“On their part, the general public must take basic precautions. Only drink boiled water, avoid consuming stale food and contact the nearest Government hospital in case of fever, cough and other symptoms related to seasonal flu,” Rajender said.

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