The Delhi government has issued a show-cause notice to several private labs for not following the ICMR guidelines by testing asymptomatic people for Covid-19.

Delhi government’s notice, which has been accessed by India Today TV, states that the ICMR testing guidelines are being flouted as asymptomatic people are being tested.

"By reviewing the data submitted by you in the ICMR portal and the H&FW department, it has been observed that a large number of asymptomatic patients were tested without following the ICMR protocol on May 30 and 31," the Delhi government's notice to some labs said.

Until the inquiry is over, the testing in at least eight labs, sources say, has been suspended.

ICMR have said that "since the state is the implementing authority, they can take action".

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has said that all asymptomatic passengers coming to Delhi by air, train or bus will need to home quarantine themselves for seven days. Delhi Disaster Management Authority has reduced the mandatory home quarantine period from 14 days to 7 days for asymptomatic travellers.

In the order issued by Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, the city government has said that airport, railways and transport authorities will provide passenger manifest to the office of Principal Secretary- (Revenue) - cum Divisional Commissioner of Delhi

On a daily basis. After that the passenger manifest will be sent to concerned District Magistrates under whose jurisdiction the passenger resides or stays to ensure the 7 day quarantine.

Delhi government said that a total 1 thousand 298 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in Delhi during the last twenty four hours taking the total number of cases to 22 thousand 132.
 
Delhi government has confirmed that 9 thousand 243 people affected with corona virus in the national capital have been cured so far and the recovery rate has reached 41.76 per cent. In the last 24 hours, 497 patients have recovered and 33 deaths have been reported in the Delhi taking the toll to 556. 

In other news, the Union Health Ministry has issued guidelines for safe Ear, Nose & Throat- ENT practice amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines are aimed at minimising the spread of Covid-19 infection among ENT doctors, nursing staff, support staff, patients and their attendants.

According to the guidelines, all patients entering the ENT OPD shall be thermal screened to minimize exposure to staff and patients. The Ministry said that patients having symptoms suggestive of Covid 19 whether ENT or Respiratory Symptoms, should be seen in a separate Covid-19 screening Clinic and not in the ENT OPD.

At the entry point of OPD, it has been suggested to regulate entry of patients and to ensure use of mask, hand hygiene and social distancing. It also advised that teleconsultation will be preferable and pior teleconsultation can be done to identify patients requiring physical examination in clinic.

The Ministry said that Covid-19 positive patients are to be operated only for emergency indications in designated operation theatres for Covid patients. It has also suggested avoiding performing endoscopy in routine OPD, adding that even if this has to be performed, it should be done preferably in a separate demarcated area with Level II PPE kit.

The guidelines also said that the Covid suspect patients should be treated in a separate ward for Covid-19 patients. They should be shifted to ENT ward only after confirmation of Covid negative status.