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Testing For Coronavirus: Aggressive Rapid Antigen Testing Underway In Jammu

According to Dr Ritesh Shan, the district nodal officer, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) takes just 30 minutes and is more suitable for bulk testing

Testing For Coronavirus: Aggressive Rapid Antigen Testing Underway In Jammu
Highlights
  • Aggressive Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) drive is underway in Jammu division
  • About 6,000 RATs are conducted daily; coronavirus positivity rate is 5%
  • 90 testing teams have been assembled by the district disaster management

Jammu: An aggressive Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) drive for COVID-19 testing is underway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jammu division and 34,000 tests have already been conducted in the last 10 days. According to Dr Ritesh Shan, the district nodal officer, the aggressive testing program by the union territory’s administration has been in place since August 26 and the coronavirus positive rate stands at around five per cent. “Through this testing drive, we have been able to identify high-risk zones and are taking a targeted cluster approach. About 6,000 RATs are conducted daily and approximately five per cent of the total tests have returned positive so far,” he said.

Also Read: Children Can Have COVID-19 Antibodies, Virus In Their System Simultaneously, States A Study

Initially, RT-PCR tests were conducted but it was only suitable for individual testing as results can take up to 36 hours to come, whereas the RAT takes just 30 minutes and is much more suitable for bulk testing. This is much more efficient and also reduces the psychological stress that a person has to go through before getting their results, Dr Shan said.

He added, “On August 29, the government announced that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can isolate at home instead of being admitted to a hospital. As soon as the results of the test come, we inform the patient then and there. In the following days, the reach-out team provides pulse oximeters and follows up on their health. This aggressive testing is the best way to break the chain of infection and we encourage everyone to come and get tested. Through this drive, we will be able to identify and isolate, and slowly start to remove the stigma attached to the virus.”

As per Dr Shan, 90 testing teams have been assembled by the district disaster management.

There are 36 urban teams. Two teams are assigned in each of the nine urban centres in Jammu. The rest are spread across other areas, including the testing of the High Court staff and officials. The district disaster management chairperson has given each team the target of 1,500 tests per day, he added.

Also Read: COVID-19 Antibodies Present In Patients Four Months After Recovery: Study

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene

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