New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday directed officers to augment the city’s testing capacity by taking a few steps, including ‘testing on demand’, testing at the national capital’s border points and at major construction sites to check the spread of COVID-19.
Sources said that during a meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the lieutenant governor asked officers to prepare detailed SOPs to introduce such testing facilities in the city.
They said that a helpline number will soon be launched, where a person, who has COVID-19 symptoms, can book testing and thereafter, can avail the facility at his or her doorstep.
“In first phase, senior citizens, women and children are likely to avail ‘testing on demand’ facility. Another option is that people can also book testing at nearby centres by making a call at the helpline number,” a source told PTI.
The LG has asked officers to set up testing facilities at Delhi’s border points as well for the screening of those having COVID-19 symptoms.
“It will be mandatory for all migrant workers coming to Delhi to undergo tests. However, people, who live in NCR but work in Delhi, can also undergo test if they feel so,” the source also said.
Last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that his government would increase daily COVID-19 tests from 20,000 to 40,000.
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it
You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust.
You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the media’s economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism.
We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the country’s most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building India’s most ambitious and energetic news platform. And have just turned three.
At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is.
This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it.
If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous and questioning journalism. Please click on the link below. Your support will define ThePrint’s future.