<p>As Maharashtra grapples with a big <strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNEJYfaZYAnxD_1uflvcc5-lzfXBsQ" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">coronavirus</a></strong> spike, Mumbai's civic body has procured one lakh Rapid Antigen testing kits for diagnosing Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNF5xA_w0ekSCZJSBl7QH2RK5Ntnug" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html" target="_blank">Track live updates on coronavirus here</a></strong><br /> <br />These kits have been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). </p>.<p><br />The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), that has adopted a universal testing policy, to control the pandemic, is targeting different areas.Ss far as the Rapid Antigen tests are concerned, the focus is on five wards - P/South (Goregaon), P/North (Malad), R/South (Kandivli), R/Central (Borivli West) and R/North (Dahisar) besides all medical colleges and containment zones. Gradually, more areas will be covered.<br /><br />"The test is recommended for all symptomatic Covid-19 suspects and asymptomatic high-risk contacts with comorbidities," BMC officials said. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-july-6-857522.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p><br />If the test is negative in a symptomatic Covid-19 suspect, then the second sample will be taken for Reverse Transcription Polymerise Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. <br /><br />According to BMC officials, so far, 724 tests have been done. </p>.<p><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNFdU6Utre9wJsHWrUXWm7xuIcCPFQ" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html" target="_blank">COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, deaths</a></strong><br /><br />It is estimated that every day around 2,000 Rapid Antigen tests will be conducted. Currently, the BMC is conducting about 3,500-5,000 RT-PCR tests daily. <br /><br />While RT-PCR takes almost eight hours to give results, the antigen-based test that uses nasal swab samples are out within 30 minutes. There are plans for Covid-19 frontline workers to also undergo the test.</p>
<p>As Maharashtra grapples with a big <strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNEJYfaZYAnxD_1uflvcc5-lzfXBsQ" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">coronavirus</a></strong> spike, Mumbai's civic body has procured one lakh Rapid Antigen testing kits for diagnosing Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNF5xA_w0ekSCZJSBl7QH2RK5Ntnug" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html" target="_blank">Track live updates on coronavirus here</a></strong><br /> <br />These kits have been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). </p>.<p><br />The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), that has adopted a universal testing policy, to control the pandemic, is targeting different areas.Ss far as the Rapid Antigen tests are concerned, the focus is on five wards - P/South (Goregaon), P/North (Malad), R/South (Kandivli), R/Central (Borivli West) and R/North (Dahisar) besides all medical colleges and containment zones. Gradually, more areas will be covered.<br /><br />"The test is recommended for all symptomatic Covid-19 suspects and asymptomatic high-risk contacts with comorbidities," BMC officials said. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-july-6-857522.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p><br />If the test is negative in a symptomatic Covid-19 suspect, then the second sample will be taken for Reverse Transcription Polymerise Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. <br /><br />According to BMC officials, so far, 724 tests have been done. </p>.<p><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html&source=gmail&ust=1594004056280000&usg=AFQjCNFdU6Utre9wJsHWrUXWm7xuIcCPFQ" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html" target="_blank">COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, deaths</a></strong><br /><br />It is estimated that every day around 2,000 Rapid Antigen tests will be conducted. Currently, the BMC is conducting about 3,500-5,000 RT-PCR tests daily. <br /><br />While RT-PCR takes almost eight hours to give results, the antigen-based test that uses nasal swab samples are out within 30 minutes. There are plans for Covid-19 frontline workers to also undergo the test.</p>