Delhi to test returning migrants in centres set up at borders

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government has set up a rapid antigen test centre at the interstate bus terminal (ISBT) in Anand Vihar in light of migrant workers returning to the capital, with the slow revival of the economy and gradual lifting of curbs that were imposed to arrest the spread of Covid-19.

Government officials said several such centres would be set up at the city’s borders over the next two weeks.

The move comes at a time when the daily reported cases have come down in the national capital, while they have gone up in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — the two states from where the maximum number of migrants are trickling into Delhi.

Delhi recorded 1,192 fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday, against the highest single day spike of 3,947 in the Capital on June 23.

Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, recorded 4,512 fresh covid cases on Friday against 605 recorded on June 23. Bihar recorded 3,906 fresh Covid cases on Friday against 206 on June 23.

The rapid antigen test centre was set up on Thursday, said a senior official of the Delhi government. He said till Friday evening, around 450 people were tested at the centre and only six were fund to be Covid-19 positive.