<p>As COVID-19 cases witnessed a sharp increase, India on Saturday revised its testing norms asking hospitals to screen all patients suffering from severe acute respiratory illness -- fever and cough and/or shortness of breath for the disease.</p>.<p>The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) also asked hospitals to test those asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts who have come in touch with a confirmed case.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-madhya-pradesh-sees-first-4-covid-19-cases-indias-tally-rises-to-256-799686.html">Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>Asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, the guidelines said.</p>.<p>“Direct and high-risk contact includes those who live in the same household with a confirmed case and healthcare workers who examined a confirmed case without adequate protection as per WHO recommendations,” the revised ICMR guidelines said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>As of Saturday morning, India has 231 patients infected with COVID-19.<br /> </p>
<p>As COVID-19 cases witnessed a sharp increase, India on Saturday revised its testing norms asking hospitals to screen all patients suffering from severe acute respiratory illness -- fever and cough and/or shortness of breath for the disease.</p>.<p>The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) also asked hospitals to test those asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts who have come in touch with a confirmed case.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-madhya-pradesh-sees-first-4-covid-19-cases-indias-tally-rises-to-256-799686.html">Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>Asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, the guidelines said.</p>.<p>“Direct and high-risk contact includes those who live in the same household with a confirmed case and healthcare workers who examined a confirmed case without adequate protection as per WHO recommendations,” the revised ICMR guidelines said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>As of Saturday morning, India has 231 patients infected with COVID-19.<br /> </p>