Extensive RAT drive in Lakhimpur, 164 positive cases detected in two days

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: In the wake of the spike in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, the Health Department has conducted Rapid Antigen Test extensively across Lakhimpur district. This drive was launched under Assam Targeted Surveillance Programme (ATSP) in order to break the very chain of the community transmission and to separate the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in the suspected area.

As a part of it, the District Health Department conducted the RAT at Gopi Nagar Colony, Milan Nagar, Khelmati, ASTC campus, DhakuakhanaChariali and ASTC campus, Laluk Center and Bihpuriyacentre on Monday. During the drive, a total of 84 COVID-19 cases were detected on the day as per RAT result. On the other hand, 7 positive cases were detected in the district as per result of the 'real time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) Test reported from Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh on the same day. As a result of it, a total of 91 COVID-19 patients were detected in the district on Monday. One journalist of the district was detected positive through RAT on Monday.

On the other hand, a total of 73 positive cases were detected in the district on Tuesday till the time of filing this report. Out of them, 17 cases were detected through rRT-PCR Test while the rest 17 cases were detected through RAT. Notably, the Health Department continued the RAT drive in the district on Tuesday too and conducted 2,500 tests successfully, which was the highest figure in the State on the day.

One more journalist in the district tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The journalist, who is the resident of a buffer zone, started suffering from fever from Monday. Then the journalist willingly got his swab sample tested on Tuesday and was found positive for coronavirus infection. In addition, two employees of HDFC Bank, two postal employees, one Anganwadi worker and one ASHA worker were also found positive on Tuesday.

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