Call for antigen tests in Darjeeling

TT , Siliguri/Malda: The spike in Covid-19 cases in Darjeeling district prompted administration and health Officials to plan antigen tests for an idea of the extent of transmission in the hills and Siliguri vision.

Darjeeling district reported 3,838 infections and 55 deaths from the onset of the pandemic till Tuesday, according to health department data.

Pralay Acharya, the chief medical officer of health (CMOH) of Darjeeling. said his department focussed on containment zones and areas from where Covid-I9 cases were reported. especially Siliguri.

Samples for tests will be collected at health camps at all blocks and civic areas of the district, he said. Health workers. Including ASHA and ANM workers would make people aware about camps. "People can come on their own to the camps," the CMOH added.

In Siliguri civic area, the administration will carry out antigen tests of traders with shops in five markets, said Siliguri SDO Sumanta Sahay.

In Malda district, where the Covid-19 cases crossed 4.000, officials of Malda Medical College & Hospital asked for more critical care doctors and nurses.

On Thursday, Amit Dam. the MMCH superintendent, said they had requested for doctors and nurses who were specialists in critical care. The request was passed on through G.K. Dhali. a Calcutta doctor and member of the state-level committee formed to handle the pandemic situation. who reached MMCH for a meeting.