Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 9: The state government has reviewed and revised the guidelines relating to testing protocol for people coming into Karnataka from other states and countries.

The state government is taking every possible measure to slow down the spread of the deadly virus. Karnataka has recorded 5,760 cases till Monday.

The revised guidelines have been made applicable with effect from Monday June 8.

The details are as follows:

1. International passengers

a. Institutional quarantine of seven days + home quarantine of seven days.

b. All passengers to be tested once between fifth and seventh day of arrival even if they are asymptomatic.

2. Inter-state passengers

a. In case of people coming from Maharashtra, they have to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine followed by seven days of home quarantine. Elderly and co-morbid passengers should be tested between fifth and seventh days of arrival even though they are asymptomatic. In case of others, testing has to be done only if symptoms develop.

b. In case of people coming from other states, they have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. They have to be tested only if symptoms are noticed.

Quarantine and testing of contacts

1. Primary/high risk contacts

a. 14 days strict home quarantine

b. If symptoms develop, they have to be tested immediately.

c. If asymptomatic, testing has to be done once between fifth to tenth days of exposure to positive persons.

2. Secondary/low risk contacts

a. 14 days home quarantine.

b. Testing has to be done only if they develop symptoms. Otherwise, tests need not be conducted.

Home isolation of positive cases are not allowed in the state as of now. Revised discharge policy will apply: a. symptomatic positive case - test after ten days of onset of symptoms. When the patient is free of symptoms for three days (without antipyretic and without oxygen support). They can be discharged if test reports are negative. Otherwise test has to be repeated after 72 hours.

In case of asymptomatic positive cases, the test has to be conducted on the seventh day of the first positive swab test. They can be discharged if found negative.

14 days of home quarantine advised to all on discharge

Fourteen days of self-reporting period applies to all after 14 days of institutional / home quarantine. They can resume normal activities / work. Self-report is needed only if any symptoms appear.

The testing protocol was last reviewed on May 20. Testing has been expanded to cover all patients with ILI symptoms (fever and cough) as per doctor's advice. Testing has also been expanded to cover all health workers with ILI symptoms (even outside containment and mitigation activities). Revision in inter-state passengers testing: Among returnees from Maharashtra, elderly and persons with co-morbid conditions have to be re-tested between five and seven days of arrival even when they are asymptomatic.