Punjab to start rapid antigen testing from next week

CHANDIGARH: Punjab has decided to launch a pilot project for Covid-19 rapid antigen testing from the coming week. It will start e-registration for persons entering the state through Shambhu border, to ensure strict monitoring of people coming from the high-risk NCR region every day.
On completion of the pilot rapid antigen project, it will cover a minimum of 1,000 tests, such testing would be done on the migrants coming back to the state in the wake of reopening of industries and for work in the paddy fields.
Punjab will procure rapid antigen testing kits to scale up its Covid testing capacity, which is even now higher than the Union government’s mandate of 140 tests per million per day in regions with a positivity factor of less than 10%, chief minister Amarinder Singh said on Friday.
With a positivity rate of just 2%, Punjab is already conducting 242 tests per million daily as part of its comprehensive strategy to check further spread of the pandemic.
Despite the Centre’s revised guidelines replacing home quarantine for domestic travellers with self-monitoring, Capt Amarinder ruled out any such move in Punjab in view of the large number of people coming to the state every day from Delhi/NCR, where cases were currently spiralling.
In a press statement, the CM said no vehicle should be allowed to enter Punjab without a stringent monitoring mechanism in place. He reviewed the Covid situation and preparedness in the state with senior government and health officials through a videoconference meeting.
With the Centre gradually withdrawing from supply of PPE kits and medicines to states, and Punjab receiving only Rs 72 crore so far this year, the chief minister said, he may need to intervene in seeking additional funds and continuation of supplies from the Union government.