Dharwad district to test apartment dwellers to curb spread

HUBBALLI: The district administration will now test all apartment dwellers in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad for Covid-19 in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic. As on October 1, the district reported a total 17,627 cases and 241 fatalities.
The administration is now planning to ramp up testing with the aim of detecting asymptomatic carriers. Officials say these carriers could be superspreaders which is why the administration has decided to conduct tests especially in residential apartments.
Authorities are already speaking to members of apartment associations and explaining to them the need for such tests.On Thursday, Hubballi urban tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal met with eight residential apartment associations at the Mini Vidhana Soudha.
“We explained to them the situation and the necessity for tests,” Madyal said. “Residents who attended agreed and they will soon give us dates to conduct tests. We have more than 90 apartments in the city and nine teams are ready to administer the tests.”
He added: “We are sure they will extend full cooperation. If a person tests positive, the administration will either provide treatment at home or shift the patient to a Covid Care Centre or to a hospital if symptoms are severe.”
District deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil said they will conduct rapid antigen (RAT) or RT-PCR tests depending on symptoms and severity. “Tests are voluntary,” Patil said. “People who suspect they have an infection can visit these locations and can give swab samples. They need not go to KIMS.”
He said the administration has many plans to curb the spread of the virus one of which is to get the police to fine people not wearing masks.