Rapid Antigen Test conducted on Galle Face Green vendors

Colombo, December 29 (newsin.asia): In order to control the spread of the coronavirus, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) on Tuesday conducted large-scale Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) in many public places to quickly detect persons with Covid-19.

With the cooperation of policemen, a medical officer, Public Health Inspectors (PHI) and other health workers went to Galle Face Green, a popular beachside walking area in the Sri Lankan capital, to conduct RAT on vendors.

Long queues for at the testing tent. Photo: Tang Lu/Xinhua

The vendors are a permanent fixture at the Galle Face Green doing brisk business with the walkers and others who come for a jog or to take in the sea breeze.

The tests were compulsory and free of charge for the vendors.

Loud speaker used to alert vendors about the test. Photo: Tang Lu

With a loudspeaker announcing the tests, vendors briskly headed towards the tent where the health workers had set up their equipment including a computer to record the data collected.

The vendors, wearing face masks, patiently waited in a serpentine queue strictly observing social distancing.

The Medical Officer shares information with a Public Health Inspector, Photo: Tang Lu

While the Health Officer checked every test result very carefully, the Public Health Inspectors instructed vendors who had tested positive on what to and what not to do.

Nine persons tested positive for COVID-19 at the Galle Face Green, Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana told the local media on Tuesday.