DC & chairman DTF Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie has informed all concerned that the advisory issued by ICMR was to be strictly adhered to while performing COVID-19 home testing using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits.
According to a DIPR report, DC has informed that all individuals who test positive may be considered as true positives and no repeat testing would be required; all individuals who test positive are to report to the district surveillance officer, Kohima at 6909937493/ 9402823462 and are advised to follow home isolation and care.
All symptomatic individuals who test negative by RAT should get themselves immediately tested by RTPCR which is especially important as RATs are likely to miss few positive cases presenting with a low viral load; all RAT negative symptomatic individuals may be treated as suspect COVID-19 cases and are advised to follow the ICMR/MoH&FW home isolation protocol while awaiting the RTPCR test result
The DC has also informed that results may be interpreted as per protocol laid down by manufacturer in the user manual.
Any action (s) in contravention with the above stated guidelines shall deem to have committed an offence punishable under IPC Section 188 and relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, DC informed.