Central district gets Delhi’s first mobile Covid-testing van

NEW DELHI: The capital on Sunday got its first Covid-19 Testing-on-Wheels, a specialised vehicle that can collect samples from two people at a time, at Central district.

District magistrate (Central) Nidhi Srivastava, who launched the initiative, said the facility would be able to cater to narrow lanes and dense areas, increasing the number of samples collected in a day. “Both nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs will be collected and sealed in double packing in an ice box before being transferred to a testing facility. It will not only save time but also people who are collecting samples,” she added.

The vehicle, which will operate for eight hours daily, moved around in Chandni Mahal, one of the containment zones in the city. “On Sunday, 31 people were tested. Another four five vans will be made operational soon,” Srivastava said, adding that a daily roster was being prepared to schedule the van’s visits. Central district has seven containment zones till now.

The key to fight the virus is testing, tracing and treatment, the DM pointed out. “It was important to make testing accessible and at the same time, ensure safety of health workers,” Srivastava said. The persons who will collect the sample will be inside an enclosure, and, hence, will not require PPEs, which are already scarce, she added.

The mobile van will also spread awareness about preventive steps through banners and a speaker. The vehicle is fitted with an inverter-run fan to help health workers in the heat.