The TAC has said that there is no need to seal floors, towers, blocks in apartment complexes and educational institutions where clusters are reported.
The TAC has said that there is no need to seal floors, towers, blocks in apartment complexes and educational institutions where clusters are reported.
The state’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended revised guidelines for Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in view of the gradual increase in cases in Bengaluru, saying that there is no need to seal floors, towers, blocks in apartments Not there. Campuses and educational institutions where clusters are reported.
Reviewing the current pandemic situation in Bengaluru, the epicenter of COVID-19 in Karnataka, the TAC in its 174th meeting on Thursday said that there is no need to conduct mass testing of asymptomatic residents in apartment complexes or educational institutions. are reported.
“All symptomatic persons in flats on the floor in case of small clusters (<5 cases); All symptomatic persons in large cluster (≥ 5 cases) block/tower flats; Outbreak (-≥15 cases) All symptomatic persons in the apartment complex to be tested by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) as determined by the local health authority. Those who test positive should be isolated and managed as per state guidelines such as home isolation or COVID care center isolation or hospitalisation,” the TAC report said.
While advising that additional samples for RT-PCR should be taken from those who test RAT positive in clusters, the TAC has said: “RAT testing is done for rapid diagnosis and immediate isolation of symptomatic individuals. However, there is no order for RT-PCR to take additional samples, which test RAT positive as RAT positivity is taken as confirmation of COVID-19 infection. But in outbreaks and clusters where RAT is used, additional samples should be collected for RT-PCR and genomes with cycle threshold (Ct) values less than 25 should be sent for sequencing.
However, TAC has reiterated that high-risk asymptomatic persons such as senior citizens and people with comorbidities should be tested only by RT-PCR and not by RAT. The report said that COVID appropriate practices like mandatory face masking in common areas should be strictly enforced.
Offices and Educational Institutions
Recommending that people with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend office, educational institutions (other than schools up to class XII), TAC has said that if RAT is positive, they should be isolated and managed as per protocol. should go. “If RAT is negative, RT-PCR test should be done and such persons should isolate themselves and wait for the test results and then follow the protocol accordingly. If someone tests positive, close contacts and primary contacts who are symptomatic should be tested by RAT and if positive they should be isolated and managed. ,
No mask, no entry in government. offices
TAC recommends enforcement of strict ‘no mask no entry’ rule in government institutions in Bengaluru. TAC has said that it should be started in Arogya Saudh with immediate effect.
Reiterating the strict enforcement of mandatory masking in closed public areas such as shopping complexes, malls, public transport, cinemas and theatres, clubs, higher educational institutions, offices, factories, industries, commercial establishments and restaurants, the TAC has said: “The time has come. To punish the defaulters under the Disaster Management/ Epidemic Diseases Act. The State Government may issue necessary orders in this regard. However, a face mask should be provided to the person while collecting the fine. ,
guidelines for domestic help
For domestic helpers working in homes with COVID-19 infected persons under home isolation, TAC has said that only asymptomatic persons below 60 years of age who have been fully vaccinated (with precautionary doses) should be given N. -95 Wearing a mask should be allowed to work. “They should strictly stay away from the rooms of infected persons. No need for quarantine and testing. The report said that facilities in common areas like club house, swimming pool, reading room, sports room, association office etc should be closed till the last case is cured and cleaned for reuse later .