BMC launches COVID-19 testing bus for mass screening

BMC Bus

In a bid to curb the growing menace of COVID-19 in the Maharashtra and Mumbai being a major hotspot, Rajesh Tope, Health Minister; Aditya Thackeray, Environment Minister; along with Praveen Pardesi, Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inaugurated Mumbai’s first COVID-19 testing bus via video conferencing on May1. The bus will be used for conducting a mass screening of people.

BMC Bus

The newly launched bus is equipped with a full-fledged coronavirus testing lab. It also features an AI-based x-ray examination facility. The other necessary equipment will be made available soon. Moreover, the bus will house a small chamber inside where tests will be conducted. The bus is also equipped with RT-PCR swab collection facility.

BMC officials said, “It is the first mobile Covid-19 testing bus for mass screening. It will be using a combination of O2 saturation, AI-based X-rays for detecting novel coronavirus.”

The COVID-19 testing bus made with the help of Krsnaa Diagnostics and IIT Alumni council will visit various slums and help to effectively isolate the high-risk suspects.

Mumbai civic body is further planning to build more such buses for strengthening their approach to tackle the pandemic.