NOIDA: After the borders with Delhi, the health department and Noida administration will on Thursday extend the exercise to conduct rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 to two metro stations – New Ashok Nagar and Botanical Garden.
Sanjeev Manglik, nodal officer for testing in Gautam Budh Nagar, said the Delhi health department would be notified if anyone from the national capital tests positive during these testing exercises.
“We are taking these steps as additional measures as there is no society, tower or sector where routine camps and testing has not been not carried out. It is not as if a huge number of positives are coming from one place. Hence, our focus is to continue testing with increased numbers,” Manglik said, adding 2,800 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Wednesday – 700 short of the target set by the state government – and 61 people tested positive
Manglik said at a review meeting with additional chief secretary Amit Mohan Prasad and health secretary Alok Kumar on Wednesday evening, Gautam Budh Nagar was commended for its efforts to keep the pandemic in check. The district has maintained a low fatality rate and there have been no deaths of patients who have been in home isolation.
Health officials admitted crowded markets and public places and a slackening of the people’s vigil against Covid-19 were causes for concern. Narendra Bhooshan, nodal officer for Covid response in Gautam Budh Nagar, said the festive season had led to a spike incases. “The important thing is to ensure safety through strict Covid protocols of social distancing, masks and sanitisation. Covid-19 is spreading very fast and with very high numbers – highest since March 22,” he said.
“Interactions with different people, including doctors, point to a slightly worrying factor, that of a new strain impacting the lungs very quickly apart from overall negligence on part of residents in maintaining Covid protocols. While pollution and the festive season may have been one of the reasons for this spike, it is high time to take precautions. I urge all citizens to wear masks all the time, and maintain social distancing if they go out because people are catching Covid-19 very fast. People should wash hands regularly with soap and test immediately if they develop any symptoms and get admitted to a hospital for 24-48 hours if they are found to be Covid-19 positive. This will help in saving lives,” Bhooshan added.