Despite efforts from the administration, coronavirus positive cases continue to rise with figures crossing the 9,000 mark in East Singhbhum district. In the last 24 hours alone 280 fresh cases were reported. The district health department has focussed on rapid antigen tests for COVID across the district.
District civil surgeon, Rajendra Jha they tested the samples of 5,492 persons though they had the target to test 10,000. "We are focussing on rapid tests. We will test 40,000 samples till Friday evening by means of rapid antigen tests. Due to some unavoidable reasons, we could test only 5,492 samples, but despite that in all 280 Coronavirus positive cases emerged, making the total number of COVID cases to 9,391" said Jha.
The district civil surgeon pointed out that over 25,000 samples out of 40,000 have already been tested, and the rest samples will be tested today and Friday respectively. He said that the fresh round of rapid antigen tests which began on Monday began at a time when a central health department team was in the city.
The drive was carried out at Golmuri, Telco, Sidgora, Birsanagar, Sitaramdera and Burmamines today.
"The move has been taken to enhance testing facilities. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) detect the presence of viral proteins (antigens) expressed by the COVID-19 virus in a sample taken from the respiratory tract of a person. If the target antigen is present in sufficient concentrations in the sample, it will bind to specific antidotes fixed to a paper strip enclosed in a plastic casing and generate a visually detectable signal within 30 minutes,” said an official.
Meanwhile, the East Singhbhum district health department carried out massive rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 at the steel city and in its rural areas of the district. Rapid antigen kits have been procured for the drive.
For carrying out the test, the district administration and its health wing has made all preparation so that the testing procedure may start effectively from 8 am to continue till 4 pm.
Jha pointed out though results of an antigen test of any person takes only 30 minutes, but compiling the results in a day will take considerable time and thus the results of the massive tests may come only till late.
The sources said in Jamshedpur 16 sample collection-cum-test centres have been identified for the rapid antigen tests, whereas in the rural areas of the district 160 such centres have been set up. About 380 medical personnel, including doctors and technicians will be attending the massive test drive, all wearing PPE kits during the day-long programme.