Pune civic body to buy 50,000 antigen kits to maintain current rate of Covid testing
However, there are limitations in increasing RT-PCR tests and results of the tests are often not declared for three days, despite instructions to declare them within 24 hours.
The testing, however, has reduced in the last one month. (Representational)
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) decided to purchase more antigen detection kits on Wednesday to ensure testing continues at the same pace even if the number of new patients identified every day continues to decrease.
“We have decided to procure 50,000 more antigen kits. This is to retain the ongoing rate of testing to identify and isolate infected persons faster,” said Sanjeev Wavare, assistant medical officer, PMC.
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The PMC began antigen testing in June after receiving approval from the state government. Initially, one lakh kits were procured and another one lakh were bought later. “The civic administration has so far used 1.5 lakh antigen kits through which we have been able to identify 35,000 infected persons so far. We have decided to order more kits in advance,” he added.
If needed, the PMC will purchase more kits in addition to the 50,000, Waware said. The PMC has spent at least Rs 9 crore on these kits and is prepared to purchase more at a price of Rs 450 per kit.
Antigen kits are used to test suspected patients, their high risk contacts as well as patients with comorbidities.
According to the civic administration, the positivity rate, which had witnessed a surge after the Ganesh festival, is stabilising now. The numbers of active cases are decreasing as more patients are recovering than are new ones being identified per day over the past few days.
“We have not decreased the number of tests much as 6,000 tests are being carried out every day. The observation is that the positivity rate is decreasing. It was 30 per cent a few days ago and has now come down to 24 per cent,” said Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
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However, there are limitations in increasing RT-PCR tests and results of the tests are often not declared for three days, despite instructions to declare them within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the civic administration has urged private laboratories to conduct tests on collected samples in time and give the reports to the patients.
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in:
Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps.
Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra.
Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development.
Investigative and Policy Impact:
National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism.
Additional Interests
Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues.
Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More
