Telangana gearing up to launch mobile Covid-19 testing centres across containment zones

The Health department is preparing to roll out mobile Covid-19 testing facilities across containment zones and slum settlements in Telangana.

The mobile Covid-19 testing buses along with ambulances and trained personnel will visit the containment zones and slums to conduct rapid antigen tests and immediately shift those patients who test positive and need institutional care to a government hospital.

“We have 1,100 Covid-19 testing facilities across Telangana. However, everybody cannot visit government health facilities from their containment zones or slums. Our mobile testing buses, with each bus having at least 10 to 12 testing counters, will visit such places and offer Covid-19 tests for free,” Health Minister Eatala Rajender said while inaugurating a mobile testing laboratory here on Wednesday.

Named ‘Intelligent



Monitoring Analysis Services Quarantine’ (iMASQ), the testing facilities are housed in specially designed buses, developed by Hyderabad-based Vera Smart Healthcare. Each mobile centre will have two sample collection teams and at least 10 sample collection counters. Such mobile centres will visit the pre-designated containment area and remain there from 8 am to 5 pm, so that local people can avail the services.

The Health Minister took a swipe at opposition parties for their constant negativity over the State’s response towards Covid-19.

“I urge political parties, organisations and associations in the State to show some maturity during a pandemic. Our healthcare workers are risking their lives by providing round-the-clock healthcare facilities in government hospitals. Instead of encouraging them, please don’t run them down with constant negativity,” he said.