Health authorities of East Singhbhum are set to launch a special Covid-19 testing drive across urban and rural areas of the district from Wednesday to gauge the extent of cases, which are on the rise since March.

The authorities have also decided to carry out Covid-19 tests of every commuter travelling from Bengal to Odisha.

District disease surveillance officer Sahir Pal informed that 2,000 tests will be carried out in urban areas, and 400 tests will be done at each of the nine blocks in the district.

“Rapid Antigen Tests will be conducted in government health hubs like MGM Medical College Hospital, Sadar Hospital, Khaasmahal and the private-run Tata Main Hospital across urban areas. In rural areas, primary health centres will carry them out,” Pal elaborated.

The disease surveillance officer pointed out that in absence of adequate tests, the extent of actual number of Covid cases is not known.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Nand Kishore Lal said that the authorities have ordered 10,000 Rapid Antigen Test kits. “We are expecting them to reach here by Wednesday morning. As soon as they arrive, the health officials put them for use,” he added.

District health department authorities apprehend a post-Holi surge in the Covid cases here.

As of Tuesday, 269 active cases of Covid-19 have been detected in the district and the total number of the cases since last year has gone up to 18,751.