Bengaluru: Giving results of COVID tests within 7 hours will be made mandatory in all Hospitals across the State, Deputy Chief Minister and State COVID Ministerial Task Force Chairman Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the COVID situation here,  he said, providing reports of COVID tests and BU number generation will be made to happen within 7 hours

Earlier, it was taking 72 hours to get results after the samples reached the laboratory. Now, this has been reduced to 7 hours. This enables early detection of the infection and to start treatment before the infection advances,  he explained.

The Minister said steps will be taken to do the blood tests of those who are in home isolation. Blood test will help to know the condition of the infected patient and to find out the inflammatory markers.

Oxygen utilisation

Oxygen produced in the State will be completely utilised within the State itself. Currently, there is supply of 850 Metric Tonnes of oxygen to the State. If the demand for oxygen increases further, arrangements will be done to get it from other States or from other countries, he said.

Antiviral Remdesivir will be useful only in the primary stage of the infection. But, when the infection is more, this antiviral is of no use. About 30-40 percent of the infected are getting admitted to hospitals even though they do not require, because of anxiety. So steps will be taken to reduce the anxiety of the patients,  he noted.

Dr. Ashwathnarayan said Hospitals are told to keep enough stock of consumables like masks, PPE kits, oximeters, medicines etc.