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

The Arunachal Pradesh government will launch an extensive serosurvey in the capital - 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^th, 2020 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.

He said, “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.”

Also read: Assam surges past 20,000-mark with 892 new COVID-19 cases

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.

“The need of the hour is to break the chain of transmission,” the health secretary said.

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.

Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast

Assam has the highest COVID-19 cases in the Northeast India followed by Tripura.

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