Arunachal Pradesh to launch serosurvey for primary and secondary contacts of COVID-19 cases

The health department will perform rapid tests using antigen and ELISA kits 

The Arunachal Pradesh government will launch an extensive serosurvey in the capital complex in Itanagar for the primary and secondary contacts of COVID-19 cases including vulnerable groups, a health department official said.

The department will perform rapid tests using antigen and ELISA kits after the ongoing lockdown till July 20 is lifted. Rapid response teams have already been constituted for the purpose, Health Secretary P Parthiban told reporters in a virtual press conference in Itanagar.

Our basic aim is to identify the primary and secondary contacts of the infected persons and to flatten the curve of the virus so that the pandemic can be contained, Parthiban said.

The rapid antigen tests began last week in the capital complex after it witnessed a spurt in COVID-19 cases, he said adding the health authorities have so far conducted 968 antigen and 1867 ELISA tests in the area.

Parthiban said that most of the cases were initially detected in quarantine facilities but in recent times they were also reported from other areas in the capital region.

It is due to the long incubation period of the virus as several cases which were negative earlier, tested positive at a later stage. The need of the hour is to break the chain of transmission, the health secretary said.

Any decision of extension of lockdown in the capital complex will be taken after the cabinet meeting slated to be held today. The meeting will assess the situation.

To a query on violation of lockdown norms by people in the capital region, Home Commissioner Kaling Tayeng said that deputy commissioners and the superintendents of police are doing their best to enforce it and several lockdown violation cases have been registered and fines imposed.

The Capital Complex comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa, has so far registered 205 cases, the highest in the state, followed by Changlang (33), Namsai (30), West Kameng (15), East Siang and Lower Subansiri 12 each.

As on Thursday Arunachal Pradesh reported 491 Covid-19 cases including 335 active cases. While 153 people have recovered, three persons have died of the pandemic, officials said.