Testing In Crowded Places, Negative Report For Malls: How BMC Plans To Curb COVID In Mumbai

As Maharashtra capital, Mumbai is witnessing another surge in new COVID-19 infections, the Brihanmumbai Civic Corporation (BMC) is stepping up efforts to contain the spread.

On Wednesday, Mumbai saw 2,377 new covid cases, the highest single-day addition since October last year.

The BMC has now decided to conduct rapid antigen tests at crowded places in Mumbai.

BCCL

The rapid antigen test will help the authorities detect the positive cases on time and help them flatten the curve.

Rapid tests

According to BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, the rapid antigen tests will be conducted in bus stops, railway stations, market places, and any such other crowded places like malls.

With this, the BMC hopes that they will be able to track the patients on time.

BCCL

¡°This move be also discourage people from visiting public places and create unnecessary crowds,¡± said officials.

Antigen Test facility to take samples for Covid-19 testing will be compulsory for all malls in the city. The new rule will come into effect from 22 March.

If visitors don't have a negative Covid-19 test report, they will have to get a Rapid Antigen Test done at the entrance of the shopping mall.

"A team will be designated at the entrance for this very purpose. The details are being worked out," said BMC.

BCCL

However, if one has an RTPCR negative test not older than 72 hours, then there would be no need for conducting the antigen test.

On Thursday, the Mumbai Police registered an FIR against a popular restaurant in the city for allegedly violating COVID-19 rules.

Strict punishments

A BMC team raided the restaurant Auber-Gin Plates and Pours, located in Breach Candy area, late Wednesday night and collected Rs 19,400 as fine from 245 people there for not wearing masks.

The establishment was not operating at 50 per cent capacity and customers were neither wearing masks nor maintaining social distance, BMC officials said.

Based on the BMC's complaint, the police registered an FIR against the restaurant.

The BMC's D-ward has also shut the restaurant for violation of the COVID-19 norms, a senior civic official said.

The Maharashtra government in a notification on Monday said cinema halls, hotels, restaurants and offices, except those related to health and essential services, in the state will function at 50 per cent capacity till March 31.

BCCL

Violation of norms will result in shutting down of the establishment as long as the central government's notification of the COVID-19 pandemic as a "disaster" is in force, it said.

Nobody will be allowed inside these establishments without wearing a mask and temperature check, the government had said in the notification which was issued in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.