The number of coronavirus cases the crossed 4,000 mark in East Singhbhum district after the district health department launched a drive to conduct at least 10,000 rapid antigen tests on Tuesday.

In all, 8,600 people were tested in 11 blocks of the district, including Jamshedpur. As many as 345 people tested positive. This apart, 16 positive cases came up from regular lab tests, thereby taking the total number of new cases to 361 and the total number of coronavirus cases to 4,108.

East Singhbhum civil surgeon R.N. Jha said that despite having made all necessary arrangements, the target of testing 10,000 samples could not be achieved because people did not turn up.

"Those willing to get themselves tested were supposed to turn up at primary health centres (PHCs). We had also conducted extensive awareness campaigns in both urban and rural areas to ensure people came to PHCs that were designated Covid testing centres. But only 86 per cent of the targeted 10,000 turned up," Jha told The Telegraph Online.

He pointed out that unlike lab tests for the coronavirus, rapid antigen test results are available in 30 minutes. All results from across the district had been compiled by 11pm on Tuesday. He said 85 per cent of those who tested positive were from Jamshedpur, indicating that the virus may not have spread as extensively in rural areas.

"As Covid is caused by droplets, health department will now take steps to spread awareness about the need to wear masks and adhere to social distancing in rural areas," Jha pointed out.

The health department, he said, would conduct rapid antigen tests on the remaining 1,400 people on Wednesday so as to fulfil the target. Test centres had already been set up at Ghaghidih Central Jail in Parsudih, Transport Nagar in Mango and Police Lines in Golmuri.

In Jamshedpur, businessmen belonging to the Sikh community have decided to keep their shops open till 3pm every day in Jugslai. On Sundays, they will keep shops closed.

Dr Sahir Paul, who was district surveillance officer in Jamshedpur and had been transferred to Chaibasa a year ago, has now been transferred back here. A senior health department official said that Dr Paul had years of experience as a district surveillance officer and had done remarkable work to check the spread of dengue and other water-borne diseases in the steel city.