Keypoints:
- BMC will conduct Random Antigen Tests at crowded places without citizens consent.
- Citizens refusing to get tested will be booked under Epidemic Act.
- On Friday, India’s financial capital logged the highest spike of 3,062 new COVID-19 cases taking its caseload to 3,55,897.
- BMC will pay for the random Covid-19 tests except in malls.
On Saturday, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed that Rapid Antigen Tests will be conducted at crowded places without people’s consent. If the public refuse to get tested, they will be booked under the Epidemic Act.
- From all the visitors, each mall will see atleast 400 Rapid Antigen Testing.
- From all the passengers,each railway station will see atleast 1000 Rapid Antigen Testing.
- From all the passengers, each MSRTC bus depot will see atleast 1000 Rapid Antigen Testing.
- Each ward will carry out at least 1000 Rapid Antigen Testing, from other crowded places like restaurants, khau galli, markets, tourist places, and government offices.
The cost for Rapid Antigen Test will be borne by concerned visitors. If any violator refuses to get tested and pay the charges, it would amount to an offense under Pandemic Act, 1897.
Currently, Mumbai has 34 containment zones in slums and chawls and 305 sealed buildings where COVID-19 cases have been found.
BMC intends to test at least 400 people visiting malls each day. For the 27 malls in Mumbai, the BMC will conduct 10,800 random tests each day.
The BMC has set a target of 47,000 random Covid-19 tests in crowded places across Mumbai every day. Each of Mumbai’s 24 wards has also been given a testing target.
