Maharashtra Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday informed that the centre has approved to conduct rapid and mass-scale testing for the coronavirus or COVID-19 which has claimed 16 lives in the state.
While talking to the reporters, Rajesh Tope stated that the state government will use blood samples instead of swabs to rapidly test those suspected to have contracted the coronavirus or COVID-19. This will ascertain “in five minutes” whether the person has developed antibodies for the disease or not, Tope added.
Rajesh Tope’s announcement that Maharashtra will begin rapid testing for the coronavirus comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with all the chief ministers to discuss to tackle the spread of the COVID-19. Tope was also a part of the interaction along with state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
“The Prime Minister has informed us that the state can now carry out rapid tests for early detection of the coronavirus cases. We will be using blood samples for the early detection of COVID-19 infection,” Rajesh Tope was quoted in media reports as saying.
Earlier, the central government had not allowed mass-scale tests. However, the same has been now permitted by the Modi government. Earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended “test, test, test” to every country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Tope further informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised the Maharashtra government to strictly sanitise the containment areas while the state health minister informed that the sanitisation of 146 such areas will begin soon.
During the conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Maharashtra government to take care of the migrant workers stranded in the state. To which, Tope replied that there are over 3.25 lakh migrant labourers in various state-run facilities or camps.
Prime Minister also suggested that the migrant workers and labourers should be provided not only with food but with TV sets so that they have entertainment and don’t leave the shelters, Rajesh Tope informed.
Earlier today, Maharashtra Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that the number of positive coronavirus or COVID-19 cases has increased to 416 while the death toll has risen to 19.
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