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To curb the spread of COVID-19, BMC to test food delivery agents, salon staffers and security guards

BMC has decided to extend the drive to food delivery agents, salon staffers and security guards. Some wards have themselves started testing to avoid the second wave in the state.

To curb the spread of COVID-19, BMC to test food delivery agents, salon staffers and security guards
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Ahead of Diwali in September Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had started testing hawkers and shopkeepers to keep the coronavirus in check. From November onwards, BMC decided to conduct tests for helpers, transporters, vegetable vendors, BEST drivers, conductors, MSRTC drivers. Due to spike in coronavirus cases post-Diwali, the civic body has now decided to extend the testing drive to include food delivery agents, salon staffers and security guards. 

Many wards in the city have themselves began testing the people who come in regular contact with the public. The G-North ward which covers Dadar, Dharavi and Mahim has begun testing food delivery agents from Tuesday, November 1.

P-South ward Goregaon West has held special camps near markets and prominent shopping locations. As a part of this drive, 645 shopkeepers and hawkers were tested on November 18. On that day no one had tested positive. According to BMC data, the ward has the highest coronavirus growth rate of 0.5 per cent, followed by R Central Borivali ward with 0.43 per cent.

C-Ward, which houses the city’s biggest textile markets of Bhuleshwar and Kalbadevi, has regularly set up rapid antigen testing near markets, offices and restaurants. The ward is conducting free tests and trying to maximise the testing numbers. At present this ward has one of the lowest coronavirus growth rates of 0.18 per cent.

The BMC had started 244 testing centres across Mumbai with an aim of increasing COVID-19 testing across Mumbai. Testing facilities are available in all the 24 wards. If a person needs to get a test done, he can call BMC’s toll-free number 1916 and book one. Any individual who has symptoms can undergo tests at these centres free of cost. The centre conducts both RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests. Lakhs of people have got their tests done in these centres.

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