PUNE: The district administration would focus on antigen tests from Saturday to identify super spreaders in high-risk areas to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Saurabh Rao, the officer on special duty at the divisional commissioner’s office, said, “The main goal of antigen testing is massive screening of vegetable sellers, shopkeepers, government employees and staffers at industries, who by the nature of their job carry the risk of contracting and spreading the viral infection.”
The antigen testing would start from the city area. Initially it would be voluntary. The testing would be scaled up gradually to conduct maximum tests of super spreaders – the potential carriers of the viral infection who could infect a large number of people coming in their contact.
Rao said, “The idea is to test and isolate the carriers as well as trace their high-risk contacts. The administration has enough kits for testing. Industries have been told to come forward and procure kits from the administration to do the testing in their respective units.”
Rapid antigen tests were carried out in various other cities. It allows faster diagnosis of Covid-19 without laboratory examination of samples, and results are available within 30 minutes.
With Pune’s high positivity rate and relaxations in the lockdown, the administration feels it is essential to carry out rapid antigen tests. From vegetable, fruit and newspaper vendors to shopkeepers and civic employees, the screening would be done of as many people as possible.
An ambulance with healthcare employees would visit different places to carry out the antigen tests on people who volunteer. Shopkeepers have been told to spread the message for undergoing the test.
“The idea is if a test result comes positive, the patient can be immediately isolated to a Covid care centre and his/her immediate high-risk contacts can be contacted,” said a district administration official.
For small traders, the testing would be conducted for free. It would be chargeable for the industry employees.
Hailing the antigen test initiative, Pune collector Naval Kishore Ram said it was a good strategy to test maximum people in high-risk areas. “With the lockdown relaxations being lifted slowly in a phased manner, rise in cases is expected. In view of this, it is important to scale up the testing capacity to the maximum possible levels,” he said.
Saurabh Rao, the officer on special duty at the divisional commissioner’s office, said, “The main goal of antigen testing is massive screening of vegetable sellers, shopkeepers, government employees and staffers at industries, who by the nature of their job carry the risk of contracting and spreading the viral infection.”
The antigen testing would start from the city area. Initially it would be voluntary. The testing would be scaled up gradually to conduct maximum tests of super spreaders – the potential carriers of the viral infection who could infect a large number of people coming in their contact.
Rao said, “The idea is to test and isolate the carriers as well as trace their high-risk contacts. The administration has enough kits for testing. Industries have been told to come forward and procure kits from the administration to do the testing in their respective units.”
Rapid antigen tests were carried out in various other cities. It allows faster diagnosis of Covid-19 without laboratory examination of samples, and results are available within 30 minutes.
With Pune’s high positivity rate and relaxations in the lockdown, the administration feels it is essential to carry out rapid antigen tests. From vegetable, fruit and newspaper vendors to shopkeepers and civic employees, the screening would be done of as many people as possible.
An ambulance with healthcare employees would visit different places to carry out the antigen tests on people who volunteer. Shopkeepers have been told to spread the message for undergoing the test.
“The idea is if a test result comes positive, the patient can be immediately isolated to a Covid care centre and his/her immediate high-risk contacts can be contacted,” said a district administration official.
For small traders, the testing would be conducted for free. It would be chargeable for the industry employees.
Hailing the antigen test initiative, Pune collector Naval Kishore Ram said it was a good strategy to test maximum people in high-risk areas. “With the lockdown relaxations being lifted slowly in a phased manner, rise in cases is expected. In view of this, it is important to scale up the testing capacity to the maximum possible levels,” he said.
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