Delhi pushes antibody tests for unlock 2.0

NEW DELHI: Delhi will roll out antibody testing for healthcare workers, security personnel, hotel employees, construction workers and in prisons to ensure that the next phase of easing lockdown measures is smooth.

After Maharashtra, the Delhi government has asked all private diagnostic centres and laboratories associated with private hospitals to start using antibody tests as a sero-surveillance tool and not a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, according to officials.

This would mean that any corporate office, security agency or shopping establishment planning to start operations with the Centre’s ‘Unlock 2.0’ can request a private laboratory to run antibody tests to see if their staff have been infected by the virus and have developed immunity. This is a part of Indian Council of Medical Research’s “immunity certificate” plan which allows an asymptomatic individual to travel or resume work at a public office if testing shows antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.