Gzb to ramp up testing, cover 25-30 villages every day
Ghaziabad: The district authority has decided to ramp up testing in rural areas. There are 161 villages in Ghaziabad and the plan is to cover 25-30 villages per day, officials said.
For this, the health department is recruiting 25 laboratory technicians. The staff members would be hired at the local level. “The testing drive is being planned in such a manner that the department covers all the villages within a week and then the process can be repeated. At least 100 tests (50 antigen and 50 RT-PCR) would be conducted per village and we want to conduct 2,500-3,000 tests daily,” a senior official said, adding that the drive will start from this week.
Since May 16, the district’s daily testing target has been increased to 8,150. Earlier it was 5,200. According to officials, 10-12 lakh people live in the villages across the district, which has an overall population of over 45 lakh.
According to officials, the kits are being distributed for the past three weeks. “We are urging people to start taking medicines soon after Covid symptoms are seen. Medicines have been given to community health centres and primary health centres for distribution. All center in-charges have been asked to prioritise screening and treatment of people with symptoms,” said a senior health official.
Last week, Gautam Budh Nagar had also decided to ramp up testing in rural areas of the district after several deaths of people with Covid-like symptoms were reported. A 48-hour drive was launched to test all villagers with symptoms and contacts of Covid patients.
Meanwhile, from 21% on May 12, the positivity rate in Ghaziabad is down to 4%. According to health department data, 591 Covid cases were reported on May 12 and 2,855 tests were conducted. On Tuesday, 7,710 samples were tested and 293 cases were reported.
“It seems the curfew has helped to break the chain of infection,” an official said.
For this, the health department is recruiting 25 laboratory technicians. The staff members would be hired at the local level. “The testing drive is being planned in such a manner that the department covers all the villages within a week and then the process can be repeated. At least 100 tests (50 antigen and 50 RT-PCR) would be conducted per village and we want to conduct 2,500-3,000 tests daily,” a senior official said, adding that the drive will start from this week.
Since May 16, the district’s daily testing target has been increased to 8,150. Earlier it was 5,200. According to officials, 10-12 lakh people live in the villages across the district, which has an overall population of over 45 lakh.
Apart from this, the health department has decided to distribute medical kits (including medicines given to Covid patients and a pamphlet explaining doses) among symptomatic patients through Asha and Anganwadi workers. Of the total 6,000 kits distributed daily, 30-35% would be set aside for the rural areas.
According to officials, the kits are being distributed for the past three weeks. “We are urging people to start taking medicines soon after Covid symptoms are seen. Medicines have been given to community health centres and primary health centres for distribution. All center in-charges have been asked to prioritise screening and treatment of people with symptoms,” said a senior health official.
Last week, Gautam Budh Nagar had also decided to ramp up testing in rural areas of the district after several deaths of people with Covid-like symptoms were reported. A 48-hour drive was launched to test all villagers with symptoms and contacts of Covid patients.
Meanwhile, from 21% on May 12, the positivity rate in Ghaziabad is down to 4%. According to health department data, 591 Covid cases were reported on May 12 and 2,855 tests were conducted. On Tuesday, 7,710 samples were tested and 293 cases were reported.
“It seems the curfew has helped to break the chain of infection,” an official said.
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