State's first drive-in Covid testing centre opens in Dharamsala

Dharamsala: State's first drive-in COVID testing centre has been opened in Dharamsala on Dharamsala –Chandigarh NH, near the education board. In this centre, the general public including tourists will also get better facilities for the Covid test. Inaugurating the ‘Drive in Covid Testing Centre’, Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said that Drive in Covid Centers would be opened in a phased manner in all major tourist places and cities of Kangra district. Covid samples will be taken at these centres from 9 am to 1 pm and the report will be informed within 15 to 20 minutes through contact numbers.
 
Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said, “Along with vaccination, regular testing is also necessary to prevent Covid infection so that the infection does not spread in the society. Special Covid testing campaign has also been started in Kangra district from Today, in which a plan for testing of all the people associated with tourism business has been prepared by the Health Department. The shopkeepers and taxi drivers will also be tested.”
 
He said that drive-in testing centres have been opened along the main road so that people passing through this route in vehicles can be given a quick facility of Covid testing and traffic police are also there to regularize  movement of vehicles . He said that  in Dharamsala thousands  of tourists visit here daily and arrangements have been made to give them COVID testing facilities without restricting their movements. He said that now random sampling will be done at the village level also regarding Covid, so that the infection can be stopped at the initial stage itself.
 
Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said,” now people have been given relief from the restrictions of lockdown and curfew etc. Therefore, citizens should also play their constructive role in ensuring compliance of social distance in public places.”

He said that there is still a need to protect against Covid. Preparations are being made at the administrative level to avoid a possible third wave of Covid, while people should also take full care of the Covid protocol. The Health Department has also been asked for smooth testing on the basis of the contact list of Covid infected. Various officers of the health department including ADM Rohit Rathore, CMO Dr Gurdarshan were present on the occasion.