The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday updated its strategy for testing coronavirus cases in the country.
According to the ICMR, the asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact
As per the new strategy, all symptomatic individuals with a history of international travel in the last 14 days are to be tested.
It also says that all symptomatic contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases, as well as patients of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), are to be tested.
All symptomatic healthcare workers and other frontline staff involved in containment and mitigation of COVID-19 are to be tested, ICMR added.
The organization also said that all symptomatic people within hotspots and containment zones are to be tested.
Moreover, all hospitalized patients developing ILI symptoms and symptomatic ILI cases among returnees and migrants within seven days should be tested for the virus, the ICMR added.
It also said that no emergency procedure including deliveries should be delayed for lack of test.
A sample can, however, be sent for testing if the patient develops any of the symptoms, it added.