BBMP to ramp up Covid testing

By Y Maheswara Reddy

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is all set to ramp up Covid-19 testing across the city in two to three days to control spread of virus ahead of the fourth wave. The civic body has also decided to ramp up testing to 10,000 from the current 3,500 to 4,000 on a daily basis.

“We have recruited 150 doctors, 150 lab technicians and 150 data entry operators on a contract basis to increase Covid-19 testing. Our focus will be primary health centres and hospitals,” said BBMP Special Commissioner (Health) Dr Thrilok Chandra.

It may be recalled that the BBMP had engaged more than 2,400 medical staff for controlling Covid pandemic during the second wave, but all of them were discharged from duty from last March as per the state government’s direction.

Now the BBMP, apart from recruiting 450 medical staff, is contemplating to avail services of around 200 cabs to be used to control Covid pandemic. According to BBMP sources, the BBMP has fixed Rs 30,000 for a doctor, Rs 19,000 for a swab collector and Rs 17,000 for a data entry operator and Rs 35,000 for each cab including wages to the driver per month.