Amid Covid surge, govt to conduct one lakh tests a day in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: With surging coronavirus cases in Bengaluru, the State government on Thursday decided to intensify testing in the city with a target of one lakh tests a day and conduct a door-to-door survey to identify positive cases.

"Instructions have been given to officials to conduct one lakh tests per day in Bengaluru and to identify at least 20 primary and secondary contacts for each case," Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar told reporters here. The minister said these measures were initiated against the backdrop of the surge in cases. He appealed to the people to cooperate if officials visit home for Covid testing.

Sudhakar said there were 8,500 booths in BBMP (city corporation) limits and a team would be formed in each booth to conduct door-to-door surveys. Their mandate will include testing, spreading awareness on isolation guidelines, necessary assistance to COVID infected persons and treatment for home isolated people, he explained. "Though this programme was unveiled last year, it could not be implemented but now we will ensure this will happen," the minister said. According to him, there are 250 ambulances available, which would be deployed in such a way that each ward has one dedicated ambulance available.

Stating that the private hospitals have been directed to reserve 50 per cent beds for Covid patients, Sudhakar said at present 1,000 beds were available for Covid patients in Bengaluru and measures have been initiated to increase it by another 3,000 to 4,000 additional beds. The information about availability of beds will be put out on the web portal to ensure transparency. Ruling out shortage of coronavirus vaccine, the minister said there were 25 lakh to 30 lakh doses available in Karanataka and the Centre has assured the state government that it would provide 25 lakh additional doses.