Covid-19: Rapid Antigen Tests In Ganjam, Cuttack From Today

Berhampur/Cuttack: As Covid numbers continue to explode in Ganjam district with each passing day, the district authorities of Ganjam is all set to roll out rapid antigen tests from today.

Informing about the development, Ganjam district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said, “We got rapid antigen test kits. We are going to start to use it from today onwards as per guidelines."

The authorities will start door-to-door screening for urban areas from tomorrow and the areas where the exercise will be carried out will be declared today.

#Ganjam district administration to begin rapid antigen tests from today onwards as per guidelines.

Door to door screening will start from tomorrow onwards for urban areas. Screening areas will be shut down for 3-4 days as per requirements during the exercise. #COVID19 #Odisha

— OTV (@otvnews) July 7, 2020

According to sources, teams have been formed with around 200 members to carry out the screening. “The teams will visit door-to-door with oximeter to check the health of residents. Screening area will be shut down for three to four days as per requirements during the exercise, the collector informed, and urged the people to cooperate and not to hide symptoms.

“We have to ensure life and livelihood. More co-ordination and co-operation with active involvement of community is the need of the hour. Covid care committees have been formed at ward level for that purpose. Local youths are working as Covid-19 monitors,” the administration further informed.

Hinting at tough action against violators, the district authorities have said, “Shopkeepers will be fined with Rs 5000 and closure of shop for 15 days for first violation of Covid social distancing norms. FIR with closure of shop for one month will be levied on anyone found violating regulations for the second time. No vehicle movement is being allowed except agriculture, goods, and for health purposes.”

Ganjam accounts for highest number of Covid-19 cases in the State. As high as 2,348 infected persons have been identified in the district so far of which 1391 have recovered from the disease. The active cases stand at 935 while 21 persons succumbed to the virus in the district.

Meanwhile, the rapid antigen test exercise will also kick off in Cuttack Municipal Corporation area from today. Patients visiting SCB Medical College and Hospital and Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) will have to undergo the test prior getting admission.

The decision regarding this was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by additional chief secretary Pradipta Mohapatra in view of rising cases of coronavirus in three premier healthcare institutes in the millennium city such as SCB, AHRCC and Sishu Bhawan.

The State has received 5,000 antigen test kits while another 20,000 kits will arrive soon. Rapid Antigen Test delivers results about Covid-19 infection very quickly.

At present, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has a total of 193 Covid-19 cases of which 22 have recovered while one has succumbed to the virus.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

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