GUWAHATI: In a crucial step towards combating COVID-19 effectively in Assam, the health department of the state has launched the Assam Targeted Surveillance Program (#ATSP) from June 17. The state aims at conducting more than 50,000 random tests within a week targeting vulnerable areas.
The following are categories of persons which shall include collection of samples for COVID-19 testing:
1) Truck parking and unloading bays including railway goods yard/godowns:
Screening and random sample collection of the staff/employees/labourers shall be done.
2) Frontline district officials:
All officials including healthcare staff, police personnel, transport department, administrative officials etc, who have been associated with activities relating to screening, sample collection, surveillance, quarantine etc., including offices of deputy commissioners, shall be screened and tested.
3) Hotel staff:
Screening and random sample collection from the staff members of those hotels which are being used as institutional quarantine viz. staff from reception, bearers, cleaners etc, shall be done.
{{XNEQzJ3t7mkXDj6XAKuX}}
4) Family members of persons released from institutional quarantine screening:
Random sample collection shall be done from amongst the family members/co-residents of homes of persons who have been released from institutional quarantine.
A total of approximately 50,000 samples are to be collected from across the state under the Targeted Surveillance Drive. The exercise shall start on 17th June 2020 and shall be completed on 27th June 2020.
The deputy commissioners shall prepare micro-plan for the screening and testing in consultation with the concerned superintendent of police, heads of offices, hotel associations etc. and submit the same to Mission Director, National Health Mission, Assam by 16th June 2020.
DCs shall also ensure availability of adequate number of laboratory technicians, data entry operators etc. for this purpose. Mission Director, National Health Mission, Assam will coordinate with DCs for smooth conduct of Targeted Surveillance Drive.