High for Navi Mumbai: 2.16L Covid tests conducted in July

So far, NMMC has tested 13 lakh of the estimated 15L in city; civic body does max testing in the state

NAVI MUMBAI: The month of July marked the highest number of tests conducted by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The civic body conducted 2.16 lakh tests including 1.63 lakh Rapid Antigen Test and 52,907 RT-PCR tests in the month just gone by.

At the start of the year, the NMMC used to conduct 50,000 to 60,000 tests a month on an average. This increased to one lakh in March and crossed 2.16 lakh in July. NMMC conducted an average of 7,000 tests daily in July as part of its targeted testing campaign aimed at delaying the anticipated third wave.

Till now, NMMC has conducted more than 13 lakh tests out of the estimated 15 lakh population, including both antigen and RT-PCR. Out of these, more than 4.54 lakh tests were conducted at NMMC’s own Covid testing lab set up a year ago.

NMMC commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, had devised the targeted testing strategy so that more and more citizens could access vaccination and protect themselves from the deadly virus. As a part of the strategy, Bangar holds a daily review through video conferencing at 7pm where the top officials discuss in detail the number of positive cases found, contact tracing of people around these positive cases, daily vaccination coverage, planning for the next day’s vaccination and daily death counts.

“The targeted testing has helped the NMMC detect asymptomatic patients who could potentially become Covid carriers and their timely isolation resulting in controlling the spread of virus. Even if there is a relative increase in the number of positive cases, it is beneficial in stemming the transmission of the virus,” Bangar said.

If a positive patient is found, targeted testing of all the residents in the building as also the dwellings is carried out. Random testing is also carried out at public places.

Officials said that NMMC leads among the corporations in the state in terms of testing.

Dr. Chandrashekhar T, Chief Intensivist, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, said,

“Both the RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests have an important role to play in enhancing the screening of Covid. The rapid antigen test is valuable in determining faster results. If the tests come positive, it helps in fast tracking the treatment process, and in turn reducing Covid comnearby plications. Therefore, both tests are important. For mass screening, a rapid antigen test is helpful. In that regard, the work done by NMMC to enhance testing for Covid using RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests is truly commendable. While one cannot guarantee that mass screening can avert or delay the third wave, screening, adhering to and maintaining Covid protocols will need to continue till the pandemic ends.”

Meanwhile, the state-of-theart RT-PCR lab set up in August 2020 has a capacity of processing 1,000 tests in 24 hours and is fully automatic. NMMC has planned to increase its capacity up to 5,000 tests per day.

Both RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests have an important role to play in enhancing the screening of Covid.

DR. CHANDRASHEKHAR T, Chief Intensivist, Fortis, Navi Mumbai