The district health department on Sunday began random Covid-19 tests on vegetable vendors of Mango.

Around 100 vegetable vendors, who come to Gandhi maidan everyday from places like Patamda, Dimna and Bhilaipahari, will undergo the test.

"Medical professionals with all safety protocols including PPEs have been deployed at Gandhi Maidan for the random testing. They will collect nasal and throat swab samples from the vendors and hawkers, on a random basis. The aim is to check if they have come in contact with any Covid positive patient,” Dr Maheshwar Prasad, the civil surgeon of East Singhbhum district, told The Telegraph Online.

He said vegetable vendors of other areas like Sakchi, Kadma, Sonari, Bistupur would also have to undergo the random test.

The district administration had earlier issued strict guidelines, asking all vegetable vendors to wear masks and follow social distancing norms.

On Saturday, 10 new Coronavirus positive cases surfaced in the steel city, taking the total count to 366 in East Singhbhum district.

Random Covid tests for vegetable vendors