MARGAO
The South Goa district administration has decided to outsource Covid tests at the railway stations in South Goa.
The administration has now authorized Victor Hospitals and Medical Services, Margao to conduct Covid RAT at Margao, Collem, Curchorem-Sanvordem and Vasco railway stations in South Goa district till such time restrictions imposed by High Court or any other competent authority are in place.
An authorization letter issued by Additional Collector-II, Sanjit Rodrigues has put a host of terms and conditions for setting up the facility.
The administration has stated that the testing agency/laboratory should set up facility to test the travellers at the above mentioned railways stations of South Goa district and the centres should be operational round the clock at Margao and Vasco-da-Gama railway stations and 30 minutes prior to train arrival at Curchorem-Sanvordem and Collem railway stations.
The RAT test kits used should be ICMR approved and the details of the kits being deployed shall be submitted on a weekly basis to Director of Health Services. DHS could also check the kits on its own on a random basis at regular intervals.
All results of Antigen testing are to be compulsorily entered on the ICMR portal, within 6 hours of testing by the agency/laboratory access to which will be given by IDSP, OHS, Goa.
If the Antigen test is positive, the results are to be communicated to the positive person immediately by the agency/laboratory conducting the test and hand over the traveller to the representative of the Deputy Collector and SDO of the concerned area.
The person conducting the tests should be a certified lab technician / Nurse/ Multipurpose worker/ paramedic, who is trained to conduct the test.
The agency is required to take all universal precautions as per specified Covid-19 protocol, adding that it shall be responsibility of the agency to ensure proper disposal of biomedical waste generated.
All costs of kits/consumables/ transport/staff and any other costs shall be borne by the testing agency.
The administration has capped the price of Rs 275 per test (Inclusive of all taxes). The Payment will be collected directly by the agency and receipt will be issued to the traveller along with the test result.
In case of violation of any terms and conditions, the authorisation is liable to be terminated without any previous notice. This office shall be free to appoint any other private agency in addition to the existing agency/ agencies, the Additional Collector stated.
