With a view to minimising the risk of infection of people travelling from home to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMC&H) for swab testing, the Cachar district administration has opened eight numbers of COVID screening centres at the block level. 

In an order issued to this effect on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner cum Chairperson District Health Society, Keerthi Jalli said to minimise the chances of people getting infected with COVID-19 disease while travelling from home to SMC&H for swab tests, the administration has opened COVID screening camps at the block level. 

“The latest move by the administration is to avoid people getting afflicted with novel coronavirus while travelling to SMC&H for swab sample tests and to provide more accessibility to them to have their swab samples tested near their homes vis-a-vis at the block level itself, ” said Jalli. 

The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned authorities to ensure proper arrangements at the screening centres and to maintain strict hygiene. The order stated that those whose swab results tested positive through Rapid Antigen Test would be shifted to a hospital or COVID Care Centre and those whose outcome is negative, their swab samples would be sent for RTPCR and they have to remain under strict home quarantine till their results are out. 
The order also stated that swab samples of suspected cases referred by government hospitals and SARI/ILI cases would also be tested at the screening centres. 

The COVID screening centres have come up at Harina MPHC, Digorkhal MPHC, Thaligram MPHC, Diger Fulertal SHC, Darmikhal MPHC, Ram Chandra Barman Public HS School, Joypur, Shibtilla MPHC, and Rajnagar MPHC. The screening centres will remain open from 11 am to 2 pm throughout the week, the order stated.