COVID-19: First batch of 9,600 rapid test kits arrive in Kashmir valley

Kashmir has received the first batch of 9,600 rapid test kits as the valley is trying to ramp up testing in its fight to contain the spread of COVID-19, officials said on Sunday.

The rapid test kits help examine whether a person has developed antibodies in their blood stream to fight the novel coronavirus, which indicates whether a person has been exposed to or has COVID-19.

The results of these tests take around 30 minutes. Doctors and healthcare workers can then determine the number of people who could be infected in a population sample.

The kits would be used in the 83 red zones in the valley on a priority basis to help the administration expand the testing in these designated areas, the officials said.

We have received the first batch of 9,600 rapid testing kits, Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo told PTI.

Mattoo said the kits were being dispatched to red zones in the valley and it would be distributed to each such containment zone.

The kits provide the results ..