Rajasthan govt to conduct rapid antigen tests on kids as schools open

JAIPUR: Since schools have reopened for all classes across the state, the health department has instructed officials in districts to keep monitoring the health of children, conduct rapid antigen tests and, if required, take samples for RT-PCR tests. Schools have been advised to keep a similar watch on the health of kids.

Though the state is not witnessing many daily new infections, the health department has decided not to be complacent. “We have issued directions to conduct rapid antigen tests in schools. There is a need to keep a check on the health of the children, who are attending classes,” said a senior health department official.

A lot of discussions on third wave and its impact on children have been doing the rounds. Since children are not vaccinated against Covid, the health department is taking measures to intensify surveillance for the virus.

Not only in Jaipur, but in other parts of the state, local health authorities will conduct rapid antigen tests in schools.

“We will conduct around 1,000 rapid antigen tests in schools daily in the coming days. Our plans are that each child should get the test done in the coming days. It is apart of surveillance for Covid,” said Dr Rajesh Sharma, chief medical health officer (Dungarpur).

In Ajmer too, health department officials are gearing up for conducting Covid tests in schools. “We will conduct rapid antigen tests randomly. Also, if any school report cases of influenza like illness among children, we will take their samples,” said Dr KK Soni, CMHO, Ajmer.

Primary schools were reopened on Monday after remaining closed for over a year owing to Covid. The schools have been asked to follow the guidelines such as allowing students from classes 1 to 5 enter classes on an odd-even basis following the social distancing norms.

In Jaipur, no Covid case was reported on Tuesday. Four persons tested positive in the state taking its overall tally to 9,54,320. No death was reported. The state’s toll stands at 8,954. Ajmer reported two cases,while one case each was reported from Alwar and Jodhpur.