China has granted approval to ten COVID-19 antigen test kits made by local companies to be used for self-testing as a way to beef up early detection capabilities to cope with the more evasive and transmissible Omicron variant. Let’s hear what the disease prevention and control experts say.
According to experts, Omicron virus has an incubation period varying from 1 day to 14 days, with an average of 3-7 days. Patients infected with Omicron are most infectious within 5 days of onset.
Fu Gengfeng, Research Fellow at Jiangsu Provincial CDC
Judging from the infection in the area where the novel coronavirus epidemic is reported.Omicron is more infectious than the Delta variant,but its pathogenic ability is weakened.Because of vaccination and the difference in the immune system of each person,some people have no symptoms after infection with Omicron,making them asymptomatic ,and covertly transmit the Omicron virus.
Experts said that although Omicron is highly contagious, various detection methods are still effective against Omicron strains, and the protection of vaccines is still effective.
Vaccines are especially helpful in preventing infected people from developing into severe disease. People who have not been vaccinated must get the shot as soon as possible, experts said.
The latest outbreaks sweeping the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are mainly caused by the highly transmissible subvariant of Omicron, known as BA. 2, according to experts.
Fu Gengfeng, Research Fellow at Jiangsu Provincial CDC
There is no need to panic,but everyone must understand and abide by the various instructions of the epidemic prevention and control headquarters in various places,and continue to strengthen personal protection.When queuing for nucleic acid testing in areas where outbreaks have been reported,you must wear a mask and maintain a safe distance.
The National Medical Products Administration has allowed ten companies-Beijing Savant Biotechnology, Nanjing Vazyme Biotech, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, Beijing Jinwofu Bioengineering Technology and Shenzhen-based BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology-to revise its COVID-19 antigen test kit's certificate to allow self-test use.
The approvals come after the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19 said on March 11 that it would allow the public to buy COVID-19 antigen self-test kits in stores and online.
In order to avoid people gathering and comply with the requirements of epidemic prevention, people need to make an appointment and register online or offline to pick up COVID-19 antigen test kits at the pharmacies.
Shen Yue, Secretary of the Party Branch of Nanjing Pharmaceutical Baixin Pharmacy
All outlets of Nanjing Baixin Pharmacy will supply COVID-19 antigen self-test kits.Each person can purchase two kits at a time.
Compared with nucleic acid detection, antigen detection is faster, cheaper and more convenient to operate. Although less sensitive, it can detect some high-risk individuals infected with the novel coronavirus, making it an important complement to existing nucleic acid testing.
On March 15, nearly 4,000 residents of Niutang Town of Changzhou City, which is classified as a control zone, were given the COVID-19 antigen self-test kits.
Cui Lunbiao, Director of the Institute of Pathogenic Microorganisms, Jiangsu Provincial CDC
Antigen test can produce results in 10-15 minutes.Individuals can conduct self-examination to detect virus infection early,screen out possible infected persons at the first time,and control the source of infection in time.
The antigen test kits can be used by people who have had fever or respiratory symptoms within five days, by people who are under quarantine and other residents who simply want to take a test.
People who test positive with COVID-19 antigen kits should immediately contact local authorities regardless of whether or not they show symptoms.
A nucleic acid test result is still needed to confirm novel coronavirus infection. People who test positive with an antigen test but negative with a nucleic acid test should undergo quarantine, close observation and repeated nucleic acid testing.
Cui Lunbiao, Director of the Institute of Pathogenic Microorganisms, Jiangsu Provincial CDC
Anyone with a positive antigen test result,regardless of whether they have symptoms such as respiratory fever,should immediately report to the community or village where they live,and the authorities will transfer them
to a medical institution for nucleic acid testing.If the antigen test is negative but also has symptoms of cold and fever,you should also go to the hospital for nucleic acid testing as soon as possible.
