Areas in Chennai that are Going to be Tested First through COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits! Details Listed

A day after the rapid test kits were delivered, the city has allocated them for some people and zones. 24,000 rapid antibody testing kits were received by the state from China, of which one-fourth (6,000) were given to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), an official said. The test uses a blood sample from the person and gives the result within 30 minutes.

These testing kits were inaugurated at Royapuram (Zone 5) where the highest number of cases have been recorded. Such zones, which have been declared as containment zones by GCC will be tested. However, GCC has decided that based on priority, frontline workers including doctors, nurses and policemen will be tested first, followed by the aforementioned containment zones. Thirdly, those who show symptoms in the door to door check-ups will be tested.

Apart from Royapuram (Zone 5), Thiru-Vika-Nagar (Zone 6), Teynampet (Zone 9), Tondiarpet (Zone 4), Kodambakkam (Zone 10), and Anna Nagar (Zone 8), have recorded the highest number of cases with smaller containment zones. After priority testing, based on the highest number of cases recorded in each of these areas, rapid test kits will be used to check for COVID-19.

This antibody test is used to check the level of the spread of the virus. If a person tests positive for the antibody test, then he/she will be directed to take the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for confirmation. GCC has started collecting swab samples for PCR tests at 26 locations in the city. These constitute of people living inside containment zones, with priority given to those who have come in touch with a patient who has tested positive.