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Mumbai: On Day 2, BMC managed to conduct 17,782 tests at crowded places

Of the total 17,782 tests, the maximum (2,661) were in L ward (Kurla), followed by H-East ward (Bandra East, Kalina) where 2,530 tests were conducted, and K-East ward (Andheri East, Jogeshwari) where 1,906 tests were done.

Mumbai: On Day 2, BMC managed to conduct 17,782 tests at crowded places
(Representational Image)
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According to reports, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) random rapid antigen test (RAT) drive that started on Monday, March 22, has been receiving a merely low response and is nowhere near the target set by the civic body.

On Wednesday, March 24, BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said that on the second day of RAT drive, on Tuesday, March 23, the BMC managed to conduct 17,782 tests, and 5 per cent of them turned out to be positive for coronavirus.

Compared to the first day, it was marginally higher. As on Monday, March 23, 15,771 tests were reported. However, the tests over the first two days — 33,553 — together fall short of the target.

BMC had set a target of 47,800 tests in a single day.

Reacting to these tests, the Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI), which represents many major malls in the city, wrote to Chahal requesting the civic body to reconsider its decision of RAT tests before entry to malls as this would dissuade genuine shoppers and have a spiralling effect on retail.

BMC can instead start vaccination camps at malls across the city, the associated requested. As a public infrastructure, with ample parking space and training rooms, malls do have the requisite space to help carry out such an exercise that will likely benefit the larger cause of carrying out an extensive vaccination drive.

The RAT were conducted at various crowded places namely malls, stations, market areas and bus depots.

Of the total 17,782 tests, the maximum (2,661) were in L ward (Kurla), followed by H-East ward (Bandra East, Kalina) where 2,530 tests were conducted, and K-East ward (Andheri East, Jogeshwari) where 1,906 were done.

L ward has the Kurla Nehru Nagar ST bus depot, LTT terminus and also Phoenix Market City mall under its jurisdiction.

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