Karnataka colleges reopen, BBMP deploys swab collection teams near campuses
With mandatory RT-PCR tests for students, teachers, and non-teaching staff of colleges at least 72 hours before they enter their respective campuses, the BBMP has decided to deploy mobile swab collection teams near colleges and higher education institutions across the city.
Bengaluru: As colleges and hostels in Karnataka set to reopen on Tuesday, November 17 Bengaluru’s local civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has taken all precautions to not violate the guidelines and standard operating procedure issued by the state government.
With mandatory RT-PCR tests for students, teachers, and non-teaching staff of colleges at least 72 hours before they enter their respective campuses, the BBMP has decided to deploy mobile swab collection teams near colleges and higher education institutions across the city.
BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad mentioned in a press release that around 450 mobile swab collection teams from the nearest public healthcare centres (PHCs) will be deployed to help with collecting samples that can be sent for testing free of cost.
Also read: Karnataka records 1,157 COVID-19 cases on Monday; Active cases drop to 26,103
Manjunath Prasad also said the 432 colleges located within BBMP limits have around 60,000 students, teachers, and members of the non-teaching staff.
The BBMP has also decided to follow up testing in a bid to avoid delays in sample collection. Samples taken will be sent promptly to labs to get reports within 24 hours. Medical officers will monitor the process to avoid delays and will send sample collection data daily to the higher authorities.
At the same time, Manjunath Prasad added in the press release that test reports will be available for access and to be downloaded as a PDF copy at https://www.covidwar.karnataka.gov.in/service1 on entering the Specimen Referral Form (SRF) ID.