MBMC adopts rapid action plan to widen scope of Covid testing

Labs, diagnostic centres and clinics get free antigen test kits

In line with its aggressive approach against the Coronavirus pandemic, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) led by Dilip Dhole has now adopted a rapid action plan by allowing laboratories, diagnostic centres and local clinics to conduct Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) on people approaching their medical establishments for other pathological tests and illnesses.

The civic administration is providing the RAT kits free of cost and those getting tested need not pay any charges, officials said. “This initiative is a part of the Break-the-Chain order aimed at quick identification, isolation and early treatment to reduce the threat of severity in those who are found positive in the antigen

tests and thus reduce the fatality rate,” said municipal commissioner-Dilip Dhole. “It was observed that the footfall of people approaching labs and diagnostic centres was high, so we decided to set up the testing facility at such establishments after training their personnel,” said nodal officer Dr Balnath Chakor.

He sought cooperation from labs, clinics and diagnostic centres to widen the scope of testing by at least 2500 to 3000 per day. In the past four days, 1018 tests were conducted by these private medical facilities in which 24 people tur ned out to be positive for Covid-19.

As of now MBMC’s health department has roped in 71 laboratories and diagnostic centres to conduct antigen tests and more such centres and family clinics will be provided with the kits in coming days to expand the scope of Covid testing.

Due to the enhanced testing, the number of daily detections which now hovers above 120 may witness a surge; however it will help in timely treatment and also to break the chain of transmission by early contract tracing.

The MBMC has so far conducted 3, 39,121 tests. While the number of active cases stood at 1,073 , the death toll had mounted to 1,261 till Thursday night.