Jharkhand government has decided to set up 24x7 rapid antigen testing booths at all major transit points in the state to scan every incoming visitor, deciding not to take any chances even though daily Covid cases and fatalities have shown a downward trend,

On Friday, health department officials said the idea was to continue to check every visitor to ensure early detection and tracking of suspected cases to prevent another spread of the virus. While inter and intra- district buses servies have been stopped as part of the state's ongoing partial lockdown, operation of trains and flight services has continued uninterrupted.

But with state government gradually heading towards wasing more restrictions on public movement, all transit points will start seeing footfall again. Hence the decision to maintain 24x7 vigil across transit points, explained officials and indicated that the decicion was based on apprehensions of a third wave later this year.

Additional chief secretary of the state health department Arun Kumar Singh had written to all deputy commissioners on Thursday, directing them to make necessary arrangements to set up the booths.

“While Covid-19 cases are dipping, it is imperative that everyone follows the principles of 'test, track, isolate, treat and vaccinate' to tackle the pandemic. Several experts are also predicting a possible third wave. Therefore, all districts are directed to set up permanent rapid antigen testing (RAT) booths at all railway stations, airport, and bus stands,” he said.

Singh suggested the testing booths must work round-the-clock. “All districts must deploy sufficient number of testing staff per booth on eight-hour shifts to ensue 24x7 testing activities,” he said, directing local police to provide security at the sample collection venues.

Since the outbreak of the second wave in the last week of March, cases soared to dangerous levels in Jharkhand. As per the health department’s data, 1,09,210 people were found to be infected with the coronavirus in April this year and 1,557 died. In May, the total infection count was 1,04,363 with 2,321 deaths. Currently, there are around 4,514 active cases as per Thursday's night bulletin. The state’s positivity rate stands at 3.83%.