Kamrup (M): Rapid antigen tests begin in Apartments

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: With a view to stabilizing the situation due to Corona pandemic, the Kamrup (M) district administration has started rapid antigen tests in apartments and buildings across the district.

The programme started on Sunday at Uttarayan Greens apartment in Bhetapara in Guwahati. After conducting random rapid tests in the business establishments in the city, now the initiative of rapid antigen tests in apartments is being taken up to control the community transmission of COVID-19 in the city.

During the rapid test that was conducted in Uttarayan Greens apartment, the Kamrup(M) Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu said that they would continue such tests in other apartments as well.

Pegu said, "Almost 100-150 families stay in apartments. If we conduct test in apartments, it'll help us in controlling community spread of the virus. This is because if we detect any COVID positive case from a particular family, then we can help others by keeping that particular family in isolation."

He told the media that the administration has been receiving immense support and cooperation from the city residents in this respect. However, the administration has not witnessed people coming out for the test at a rate expected by the administration even as a total of 91 COVID Counselling Centres in the city have been set up to reach more people.

"We're planning to conduct more tests in the coming days. The situation we'll come under control on the basis of tests. Till date we've conducted over 50,000 tests and we hope to meet 1 lakh before August 10. It is a good news for us that now corona infection rate is decreasing in the city," he added. The residents of apartments appreciated the initiative and appealed to others to test their COVID-19 status so as to overcome the pandemic.

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