As COVID-19 cases rapidly rise in India, our healthcare system has become severely burdened. This includes testing labs, that have not enough kits or personnel to meet the current demand. If you’ve recently been to a testing centre, you’ll realise just how severe the situation is—crowds of people gather every day at these centres and no social distancing is observed.
To lighten the load of these testing labs, some new rules about getting the COVID-19 test have come into play, which will limit the number of tests you do, and determine whether you actually need one. Here’s what you need to know:
New Testing Rules
If you’re planning to get tested for COVID-19, read this before you book your test. According to the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR), you no longer need to take the test for the following reasons:
Inter-state travel
Previously, travelling outside your state of current residence required you to carry a negative COVID-19 test report. Now, as long as you are healthy and have no symptoms, you no longer need to carry one.
If you’ve tested positive after taking an RT-PCR test
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If you have already tested positive once on an RT-PCR test, you can no longer take multiple tests to ‘confirm’ your suspicions. You need to now take the first test report on face value.
If you’ve tested positive after taking a rapid antigen test
If you have just taken a rapid antigen test, you cannot take an RT-PCR test or another rapid antigen test.
If you had a mild case and have recovered
If you have been in home isolation for over 10 days after testing positive and no longer have any symptoms like fever for the last three days, you don’t need to test at the end of your isolation period.
If you’re being discharged from the hospital
If you were admitted to a hospital for treatment of coronavirus, but have fully recovered and being discharged, you no longer need to get a negative test report before you leave for home.
Bottom line: take the test only if you need it! Until then, stay indoors, register to get vaccinated and follow all safety precautions.
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