COVID-19: Mobile testing labs to be deployed at all crowded places

COVID-19 is scheduled to increase the number of cases, improve BBMP testing, improve contact tracing and expand vaccination drives. Officials said these are the three pillars of the renewed action plan to stop the second wave of COVID-19 in the city.

Mobile COVID-19 testing laboratories equipped to conduct both RAT and RT-PCR tests will soon be deployed to conduct randomized testing at all major congestion locations, such as markets, malls and bus and railway stations. The civic body will issue guidelines for tie-ups to conduct randomized trials at residents’ welfare associations (RWA), apartment associations, educational institutions and even marriage venues.

The newly revised guidelines released on Thursday by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) have set a target of 40,000 RT-PCR tests per day for the Bengaluru urban district in the light of an increase in cases. The data shows that the per diem test, which was in the range of 25,000–30,000 in February last week, has ramped up to the range of 35,000–40,000 since March 1.

“We have set a target of at least 50,000 tests per day, exceeding the target set by MoHFW. At the peak of the epidemic last year, the city crossed 60,000 tests per day. So we have the capacity to do 50,000 tests in a day. Random testing at crowded places will help us find more cases, ”said Civil Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.

The BBMP is concerned that if the spread of the virus is not controlled immediately, the city may be at the peak of the second wave. “However, the test positivity rate today is nothing compared to the beginning of last year,” said a civilian health officer, who was quick to add that it should not breed complacency.

Mr. Prasad on Friday directed the authorities to locate at least 15 contacts for each positive case and the process should be completed within 48 hours after a positive report for better results.

ASHA workers and other health officials will be roped in to survey senior citizens and people with co-morbidities in slums and other lower income groups, for whom online registration is not possible. “We do not have the option of organizing vaccination camps in these areas, such as testing camps. These people will be assured and mobilized for the nearest vaccination site on priority, ”said Mr. Prasad.