Assam News

COVID-19: Rapid testing at shops, offices in Guwahati from today

Sentinel Digital Desk

Guwahati: In view of the Covid-19 outbreaks across Assam, the health officials have started rapid tests at shops and offices in Guwahati city from Tuesday, July 28.

As per the exercise, the health department staff have decided to visit the shops, industries and government and private offices in the city and conduct rapid Antigen Test of the employees working there.

They will have to notify the concerned shops, industries, and offices a day before their visit. As per reports, the health department has also increased the number of screening centers to meet the rising needs.

They have also informed that the laboratory technicians will conduct tests at their respective screening centers from 9.30 and to 12.30 pm daily, and from 1.30 PM will visit shops, industries, and offices . In a day, the teams assigned for the tests will have to do at least 50 tests.

It has been reported that the government has set a target of 1,90,000 more tests to achieve its target of 3 lakh tests across the city before normal operations can resume.

Notably, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sharma stated that if someone from a shop is tested positive, it will not remain closed and other employees may open from the next day.

Meanwhile, in a positive turn of events, the cases in Guwahati have reportedly come down to below 200 in the last two days. It is to be mentioned that the city recorded 155 cases on Monday while 171 were cases reported on Sunday.

Sarma also informed that in order to bring the infection rate to 5%, more and more tests have to conducted per day. He has also assured that by next week, the city will get 10,000 beds for Covid-19 patients.