By : Laura| Keywords : Morocco-COVID-19
French.china.org.cn| Updated on 08-14-2020-
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The Moroccan Ministry of Health has just introduced rapid serological tests in neighborhood dispensaries with the aim of being able to quickly test people at risk or who are referred by doctors or community pharmacists.
“Primary health care establishments are called upon to perform rapid serological tests for the population at risk and suspected cases referred by private sector doctors, community pharmacists and those detected at the health center level”, reads -on in a circular from the ministry dated this Thursday.
IGM (immunoglobulin M) positive patients with the presence of antibodies indicating a recent infection with the coronavirus are referred to hospital structures on an outpatient basis for a PCR test and a complementary assessment. Pending the result of the PCR test, people eligible for home care will be confined to their homes, underlines the circular.
If the PCR result is negative, the health center contacts the patient, informs him and recommends that he remain self-contained in accordance with barrier gestures. If the PCR is positive, the eligible asymptomatic patient will stay at home where he will be followed. Otherwise, he will be hospitalized, recommends the document.
This decision breaks with the centralization strategy that had prevailed but which showed its limits when the number of cases and tests increased. Now, serological tests will be done in neighborhoods and get closer to the population.
Until now and in the context of the increase in confirmed cases and contact cases, the time between the identification of a contact case or a suspected case and the start of treatment has fluctuated on average between 7 and 9 days.
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