The Union government has asked all states to set up 24x7 rapid testing booths to assist with early testing and rapid isolation if there is a surge in cases.

In a letter to states and union territories, the chief of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Balram Bhargava, and Union health secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, stated that several rapid antigen test (RAT) booths should be set up and should function on a 24x7 basis in order to offer widespread testing facilities. The directive further stated that amid the current surge of COVID cases, any person who presents with fever with or without cough, sore throat, headache, breathlessness, body ache, recent loss of taste or smell, fatigue, and diarrhea, should be suspected as a COVID-19 case unless proven otherwise, and all such people should be tested. 

People should stay in home isolation and follow the guidelines till the test results are received… (HT, January 1, 2022)