JAIPUR: In order to avoid a possible ‘havoc’, the Rajasthan government has decided to screen and test essential service providers who come into contact with hundreds of people daily. A senior official of the state government said that they would use rapid antibody blood testing kits to sample test about 2,000 such service providers in the city.
“Even as the lockdown continues and people are following the stay-at-home orders, they still visit the neighbourhood kirana stores and dairy booths, and buy vegetables from street vendors. These service providers come in contact with hundreds of people every day. If somebody is carrying the virus, it can create havoc in the area. That’s why the priority is to test them first,” said Ajitabh Sharma, principal secretary, energy department, who is the nodal officer for Jaipur city.
Currently, there is no system to screen them. While social distancing practices are followed by many of these essential service providers, it’s not water-tight, given the number of transactions they make in a day or the number of people they serve every day, said Sharma.
“There is a small window of possibility. One does not know how many people a vegetable vendor meets, starting from the point of procuring vegetables from the mandi and in what condition he conducts himself in terms of social distancing. That’s why there is urgent need to test them,” added Sharma. The state government is expected to receive 8,000 rapid antibody blood testing kits by April 12.
“Even as the lockdown continues and people are following the stay-at-home orders, they still visit the neighbourhood kirana stores and dairy booths, and buy vegetables from street vendors. These service providers come in contact with hundreds of people every day. If somebody is carrying the virus, it can create havoc in the area. That’s why the priority is to test them first,” said Ajitabh Sharma, principal secretary, energy department, who is the nodal officer for Jaipur city.
Currently, there is no system to screen them. While social distancing practices are followed by many of these essential service providers, it’s not water-tight, given the number of transactions they make in a day or the number of people they serve every day, said Sharma.
“There is a small window of possibility. One does not know how many people a vegetable vendor meets, starting from the point of procuring vegetables from the mandi and in what condition he conducts himself in terms of social distancing. That’s why there is urgent need to test them,” added Sharma. The state government is expected to receive 8,000 rapid antibody blood testing kits by April 12.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app