Karnataka turns buses into health clinics to boost Covid-19 testing

Each bus is partitioned into two zones — consultation and testing. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) claimed that proper hygiene will be ensured throughout.

“In Bengaluru, four teams in four mobile bus clinics have started plying across rural and urban areas of the city soon after the launch. Each team comprises a doctor, three nurses and a lab technician with several volunteers facilitating the process,” a KSRTC official said.

According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, these clinics will offer free glucose and blood pressure tests, besides offering consultation for COVID-19 symptoms.

“For those showcasing coronavirus symptoms, swabs (samples) will be collected immediately and sent for testing at Biognosys Technologies – an ICMR -certified lab for testing. Once found positive, the patient’s information will be shared with the government following with quarantining process will be initiated,” the official said.

All bus clinics have been modified at KSRTC workshops across the state.

“Such clinics will extend services to other districts including Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur, Mangaluru, Bagalkote, Hubblli, Belgavi, and Raichuru, in coordination with the respective district administrative authorities,” Yediyurappa added.

Meanwhile, Bangalore South Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya said that one of the four such buses deployed in Bengaluru would be provided to the City Police Department to test personnel.

“We’re providing one of these busses to @CPBlr to test at-risk policemen in Bengaluru. Other 4 busses would be utilized as per requirements of BBMP & Health Dept,” he tweeted.