Corona death rate jumps to 2.7 per cent in Jamshedpur, health department intensifies Rapid tests

Jamshedpur, Sept. 10: The district health department has intensified drive to conduct rapid corona tests to detect corona cases at the early stage. Rapid tests were conducted at different housing societies at Jugsalai and Sakchi market areas. The department aims to conduct 40,000 tests in four days.

On September 10, the drive will be carried out at Golmuri, Telco, Sidgora, Birsanagar, Sitaramdera and Burmamines.

“The move has been taken to enhance testing facilities. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) detect the presence of viral proteins (antigens) expressed by the COVID-19 virus in a sample taken from the respiratory tract of a person. 

If the target antigen is present in sufficient concentrations in the sample, it will bind to specific antidotes fixed to a paper strip enclosed in a plastic casing and generate a visually detectable signal within 30 minutes,� said an official.

Meanwhile, the East Singhbhum district health department carried out massive rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 at the steel city and in its rural areas of the district. Rapid antigen kits have been procured for the drive. The test drive is being carried at Kadma, Sonari, Birsanagar, Sidgora and Mango. 

For carrying out the test, the district administration and its health wing has made all preparation so that the testing procedure may start effectively from 8 am to continue till 4 pm.

Revealing about the rapid antigen test, district civil surgeon, Dr RN Jha said that for carrying out such a test one does need a conventional laboratory.

Jha said though the medical team carry out the test will obtain swabbed samples from the nose and throat like it is done for a test in the RT-PCR in a lab, but the sample tests are done by means of a kit outside a laboratory.

Jha pointed out though results of an antigen test of any person takes only 30 minutes, but compiling the results in a day will take considerable time and thus the results of the massive tests may come only till late.

The sources said in Jamshedpur 16 sample collection-cum-test centres have been identified for the rapid antigen tests, whereas in the rural areas of the district 160 such centres have been set up. 

About 380 medical personnel, including doctors and technicians will be attending the massive test drive, all wearing PPE kits during the day-long programme.

Meanwhile, the death rate of people dying because of corona in Jamshedpur  has jumped to 2.7 per cent .