Aurangabad: Jalna deploys mobile swab collection vans

AURANGABAD: The local civic body in Jalna has started using mobile vans to collect throat swab samples for Covid-19 tests.
Jalna municipal council CEO Nitin Narvekar on Saturday said 36 areas of the city and the outskirts have been identified for the collection of swabs using the mobile vans.
“The vans are being used for collecting swabs of pregnant women and people aged above 60 years, as these people often face difficulties in reaching testing facilities,” he said.
Narvekar said the target groups would have to give their swab samples even if they are not showing Covid-19 symptoms. “We have initiated a health survey of around 70,000 homes within the city limits. Door-to-door visits are being made to screen citizens. Swabs are collected from the high-risk groups,” he said. The local authorities have set a daily target of 225 sample collection for testing.
Jalna district has reported -------- Covid-19 cases and ---- deaths by Saturday evening. ---- people have been cured.
Jalna still does not have Covid 19 testing facility of its own and swab samples are sent to Aurangabad and other places. A testing facility is being set up at Jalna and is slated for formal inauguration soon.