Amid surge, BMC to conduct random tests at public places without consent

According to the BMC circular, while visitors at malls will have to pay for the tests, the BMC will conduct free tests at other public places.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to randomly test people for the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at public places without their consent amid a surge in infections.

BMC medical staff collecting swab samples from hawkers fto test for Covid-19 at Prathan Samaj, Girgoan in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times)

In a circular issued on Friday, Mumbai’s governing civic body said it would conduct Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at crowded places like malls, railway stations, state transport bus depots, tourist places and markets.

“RAT will be carried out without the consent of citizens who are present at these crowded places. If the citizen refuses the test, it would amount to an offence under the Epidemic Act, 1897,” it said in the circular.

The move comes against the backdrop of rising number of Covid cases in Mumbai. The Maharashtra capital recorded 2, 982 cases on Saturday, taking its total tally to 358,896. Maharashtra registered 27,126 Covid cases in the last 24 hours.

According to the circular, while visitors at malls will have to pay for the tests, the BMC will conduct free tests at other places.

Medical professionals welcomed the move, saying more testing was the need of the hour. “If the tests are conducted and they turn to be positive, it will help in contact tracing and reduce the further spread of this virus. It will also discourage people from going to crowded place and help to reduce the congestion,” said Dr Ameet Mandot, Director, Gut Clinic at Parel.