Noida / Ghaziabad: Eleven people who entered Noida and Ghaziabad from Delhi tested positive during random tests for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) by officials from the two cities on Wednesday.
Despite the fact that the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration had announced on Tuesday that travelers from Delhi will undergo random testing on the roads and metro stations connecting Noida and Delhi, Ghaziabad officials began the tests as part of a new strategy to curb the increase in Covid cases after the holiday season. .
Of the total of 11, three tested positive on their way to Noida. Eighty-one tests were conducted at DND Flyway, where one person tested positive, while two of 84 tests were positive at the Link Road border. In Ghaziabad, 72 people were tested near the UP gate, of which eight tested positive. All tests were performed using the least reliable rapid antigen method.
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A team of three lab technicians each had been deployed to DND Flyway and Noida link road.
Dr Deepak Ohri, Medical Director of Gautam Budh Nagar, said: “If those who test positive are residents of Noida, they will be sent to hospital or home isolation based on symptoms. The rapid antigen test results come out in 4-5 minutes, so there are no problems for travelers. ”
Ohri said the health department was told not to pressure travelers to get tested. “If they are not willing, we will not force them and we will let them go,” he said. He added that the exercise will continue for a few more days and he did not commit to an end date.
District Magistrate Suhas LY said this is being done to assess the spread of the infection and would help issue warnings to employers and organizations, where large numbers of people work and travel between Noida and adjacent areas.
Ganesh Saha, Noida Police (Traffic) Deputy Commissioner, said traffic was not affected during the exercise.
Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said that while they have not chosen particular border points, teams are being deployed in areas where the majority of travelers come from Delhi. He said test teams have been deployed in areas like Indirapuram, Vaishali, Khoda and Loni, which are near Delhi.
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“We are not focusing at all on testing at the borders with Delhi. But our teams are already deployed in border areas and have been asked to scale up testing. The teams are deployed in places where we know of people coming from Delhi. So our teams are testing them, as are the locals. In addition, we have developed a comprehensive post-festival strategy that will take effect on November 21, the day after Chhath Puja ends, ”said Pandey.
A health department official said that of the eight who tested positive, four were traveling in a car. “We will adhere to the Covid-19 protocols regarding those residing in the city, while the Delhi authorities will be informed about the status of its residents,” the official said.
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