Jamshedpur, Aug 19: During massive rapid antigen tests drive fresh 250 cases were reported that took total figures to 4250.� Moreover, three fresh deaths were reported at Tata Main Hospital today.
While admitting that the situation is becoming serious, a senior health officer said people should avoid visiting thickly populated places as far as possible. �If people ensured social distancing norms, the situation could be brought under control within three weeks,� the official noted.
� We have noticed that a number of positive cases are coming from areas that are densely populated like Mango, Jugsalai and Kadma. Business and residential areas located in Sakchi are vulnerable,� he further noted.
Crowded marketplaces and densely populated residential areas surrounding them are emerging as COVID-19 hotspots in the city,� noted an official. Mango and Jugsalai areas have a large number of small to medium retail and wholesale business houses and are frequented by thousands of customers every day. Most houses here have common walls.
The East Singhbhum district health department conducted massive rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 at the steel city and in its rural areas of the district.
Though the health department had a target to carry out all 10,000 tests on a single day covering both the urban areas as well as the rural areas of the district, it could not achieve the numbers. On second day today, around 2500 tests were conducted. The drive was carried from 8 am to continue till 4 pm.
Jharkhand health department has launched a rapid antigen testing drive for two days in four districts which have high cases. The districts are Palamu, East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur), Ranchi and Dhanbad.
It is a pilot project aimed at identifying the infected persons and containing the virus and 10,000 persons will be tested in each district.
“Presently this is a pilot project for two days. But we will make it regular. Our aim is to treat and cure maximum number of people,”said an official.
The health department has issued instructions to deputy commissioners of all four districts for effective execution of the testing drive. Guidelines for the effective use of the testing resources and other protocols have also been provided.
District civil surgeon, Dr RN Jha said that for carrying out such a test one does need a conventional laboratory. The rapid antigen tests were carried out in Jamshedpur and in 10 blocks across the East Singhbhum district.
� The state government has identified some nursing homes and hospitals in Jamshedpur. If they don’t improve and go against human values in the name of Covid-19, action will be taken. They may lose their registration,” he said.
