Goa to conduct rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19: CM Pramod Sawant

After addressing a COVID-19 review meeting, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that the state will shortly start conducting the rapid antigen detection test for coronavirus diagnosis. The testing will begin from Mangor Hill in Vasco town which is the worst-hit area.

Panaji (Goa): The Goa government will soon start conducting rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 diagnosis, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday.

He said that the testing will begin from the worst-affected Mangor Hill area in Vasco town.

It is a test on swabbed nasal samples that detects antigens (foreign substances that induce an immune response in the body) that are found on or within the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The chief minister, however, did not clarify whether the test will be conducted only for residents of Mangor Hill containment zone or for high-risk contacts of the infected patients.

Sawant has ruled out the immediate possibility of de-sealing Mangor Hill area, saying that the infection is still spreading in the locality.

"We have decided that people from a containment zone can get themselves tested for COVID-19, and if their test is negative, they can move out of that zone to join offices.

"However, they will not be allowed to re-enter the containment zone and have to stay outside it," the CM told reporters at Porvorim after addressing a review meeting.

He said that 2,000 of total 8,000 residents of Mangor Hill have been tested so far.

Goa's COVID-19 case tally stood at 1,761 with seven deaths as on July 5.

PTI report

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