Health cards help keep track of nCov testing

Surat: The health cards issued by the Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) health department is helping small business owners keep track of their as well as their staff’s health. The civic body has issued one lakh health cards to various shopkeepers and small business owners across the city.
The health card contains information on the business owners vaccination details, Covid-19 testing days and when the next test is due.
“This health card helps me track my Covid-19 testing dates when I come to work. It helps us convince our customers that our shop is safe and when have been tested for the virus,” said Tanzil Mitha, a store manager in Adajan.
Similarly, a store owner in Bhatar, Tulsi Patel, said, “With the card, I can also keep track of my employees’ testing. Till we get a vaccine this card will help us in fighting the pandemic.”
SMC health department officials said, “Initially, the shop owners were not cooperating with the health cards. But gradually they realised that it is for their betterment. Now the shop owners and their staff are approaching us to issue them the card.”
“The shop owners and his workers come in contact with a large number of customers. If they get infected, there are higher chances that they may infect a large number of people. Hence we are enforcing the use of health cards aggressively. We are getting good response from people,” said Banchhanidhi Pani, SMC commissioner.