Special drive to test 40,000 in 2 days across 4 districts

Ranchi: In order to identify the infected persons and as a result, contain the spread of the virus, the state health department has directed four districts with a high case load to conduct a special rapid antigen testing drive on Monday and Tuesday. All the four districts — Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Palamu and Dhanbad — will test 10,000 persons each as part of the drive.
On Sunday, state health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni said, “We have set a target of conducting 40,000 tests in the next two days across four districts which will be done by rapid antigen testing kits. Palamu and Dhanbad will be conduct the tests on Monday while Ranchi and East Singhbhum will do it on Tuesday.”
A letter in this regard was issued by the health secretary on August 13, directing the deputy commissioners of all the four districts to come up with a meticulous plan for the effective execution of the testing drive so that the targets are achieved within the given time frame. The letter also provided guidelines for the effective use of the testing resources, directions on hygiene and safety protocols and the interpretation of results.
The state head of Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, Dr Praveen Karn, said, “Densely populated areas like markets and slums, among others, will be given priority when conducting the tests. The drive will also cover the health workers, including the ambulance drivers, administrative staff at the hospitals, the municipality workers and those living in the containment zones.”
The Ranchi district administration has released a list of 20 locations for conducting the drive, which include 14 rural areas and six urban locations. “We have included places with a high footfall like community health centres, jails, courts and market places, for the drive,” Ranchi PRO Ranchi Prabhat Shankar said.
Palamu has made elaborate plans for conducting the special drive. “We have constituted 30 teams, with three members in each, and have categorised the section of people to be tested during the special drive. Health workers deployed on Covid-19 duty at the medical college and the community and primary health centres will be tested with the police personnel on Covid duty. While the advocates and their family members will be tested along with the traders,” deputy commissioner Shashi Ranjan said. He added, “We have set up a camp at the district border in Harharganj so that anyone entering Palamu can be immediately tested before being allowed in.”
As of Sunday morning, Ranchi recorded a total of 4,272 cases, Palamu recorded 954 cases, East Singhbhum saw 3,668 cases and Dhanbad witnessed 1,478 cases.