Intensified testing in Steel City after nudge from central team

Jamshedpur: Based on the suggestions made by the central team after its inspection here a few days ago, the district authorities have decided to intensify their testing and examine more and more Covid-19 suspects for early detection of cases.
A few days ago, a three-member team from the Union ministry of health had visited Steel City to assess its management of the pandemic and point out its improvement areas.
“Besides timely treatment, the central team has asked us to identify asymptomatic patients, conduct more swab sample tests and do proper contact tracing to prevent fatalities,” a senior health official on condition of anonymity said.
Areas containment zones, buffer zones, Covid hotspots, market places, malls, bus and auto stands are the prime targets of the health department for carrying out the tests. DC Suraj Kumar has urged people to come forward and cooperate with the health officials in getting their tests done. Kumar has asked the officials concerned to take action against those not undergoing the test or creating obstacles in the smooth conduction of the testing drive. “Anyone found creating problems or refusing to conduct the test will be charged under section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005,” civil surgeon R N Jha said.
In the last few weeks, the district administration has already carried out rapid antigen testing in camps organised in areas like Golmuri, Sidhgora, Telco, Burma mines, Baridih, Birsanagar and Sitaramdera where it has tested more than 5,000 samples.
As of Saturday morning, the district had 10,275 cases, of which 3173 were active. As many as 238 patients have died and 6,864 have been cured.
As per the health department’s data, 171 people above the age of 60, 62 in the 45-59 age group, 17 in the 30-44 age group and five in the 15-29 age group have died so far.