Asymptomatic patients must not get tested: Centre

New Delhi : Contacts of coronavirus patients, unless identified as "high-risk", must not get tested, the government's top medical body said on Monday.

Asymptomatic individuals in community settings, patients who stand discharged as per home isolation guidelines, also patients discharged from a COVID-19 facility and individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel need not be tested, said the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR.

Those with cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, breathlessness and other respiratory symptoms) individuals should be tested, said the body.

Also, international travelers coming from airport, seaports and ports have to go under mandatory testing upon their arrival.

No emergency procedure - like surgeries and deliveries - should be delayed for lack of a test, said the medical body.

Patients should not be referred to other facilities for lack of a testing facility, it said.  

Asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical/non-surgical invasive procedures including pregnant women in or near labour who are hospitalised for delivery should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop, said the advisory.