In a bid to ramp up testing across the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to take antigen tests to all dispensaries and peripheral hospitals, for which lab technicians are currently undergoing training. Having completed almost 70,000 antigen tests, the civic body is now in the process of buying the next installment of antigen kits, which are expected to arrive next month.

Speaking to mid-day, additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said from next week, antigen tests would be carried out free of cost for high-risk contacts of COVID-19 patients. "We will start antigen tests all over the city. We are floating the expression of interest for 50,000 kits, which will be procured in the next three weeks. We are not buying more at the moment as the rates may reduce. When needed, we'll place another order after a couple of weeks," he said.