Bhubaneswar: To ramp up testing facilities for COVID-19, the Odisha government started conducting tests of suspected cases in five schools in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Medical teams began the tests at a primary school at Jharpada, UG High School at Gandamunda, Mumtaz Ali High School at Nayapalli and two government high schools at Chandrasekharpur and Saheed Nagar.
The tests in these five schools will continue will April 17. They will be conducted in two phases. The first phase from 9 am to 12 noon and the second between 3 pm and 5 pm.
The blood and swab samples will be collected from people who have the travel history and those who have come in contact with infected people.
The tests will be done in the presence of the school staff including two teachers, one sweeper and watchman.
On Friday, the Public Health Director had written to the District Education Officer (DEO), Khurda, directing the latter to conduct the COVID tests in schools.
The mass testing of the people has begun after the state government received rapid testing kits from the Centre.
