The East Singhbhum district administration has launched a two- day special drive for detection of Coronavirus positive cases across the district from Monday, in view of the third wave of the pandemic tipped to hit the country shortly.

Though the cases have waned considerably in both the urban areas of the steel city as well as in the rural areas of the district, the special drive has been launched as a precautionary move.

District civil surgeon, A.K. Lal said that they have targeted to carry out 14,000 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) during these two days across the district.

"Health workers across the district have been given the task to carry out 7,000 RATs during these two days beginning from Monday. 7,000 tests have to be carried out in Jamshedpur and as many tests have to be done in the rural areas, "said the civil surgeon to The Telegraph Online.

Lal said 22 teams of health officials were set up for the special drive.

"While 11 teams have been engaged in the steel city for carrying out the drive, the same number of teams will cover the rural areas, "the civil surgeon informed.

Lal pointed out that the pace of RAT had slowed down following the decline in cases in the district, but the administration decided to carry out such a special drive on a regular basis in view of the pandemic's third wave.

On Sunday, seven positive cases were detected following 3,986 samples subjected to RAT and RT-PCR tests in the district. Following these seven positive cases, the total number of Covid cases in the district has risen to 51,412.

Presently, there are 185 active Covid cases undergoing treatment at various hospitals here whereas 50,181 people have already been cured.