The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday announced that it would conduct random rapid antigen tests without consent at all crowded public places such as malls, markets, shopping complexes, bus stations and railway stations in Mumbai.

According to media reports, a senior BMC official said that antigen diagnosis centres will be set up outside these spots in the city for the purpose. 

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The announcement came on the day when the crowded city of Mumbai recorded  3,062 new cases of COVID-19, which entails the highest one day spike since the pandemic began last year.

Rapid antigen detection tests are known to be quicker as it take only up to 30 minutes for diagnosis when compared to RT-PCR tests that typically take at least 24 hours to give results.

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According per ICMR guidelines, any symptomatic person who tests negative for COVID-19 in the rapid antigen tests should go for RT-PCR test as well.

Mumbai on Friday recorded 3,062 coronavirus cases, which is the highest daily spike since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Mumbai reported its biggest hike in COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day as on Thursday, 2,877 infections were recorded.

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In view of surging virus cases in the state, Maharashtra government began imposing fresh set of restrictions in various districts of state, latest being the extension of COVID curbs in Nagpur till March 31.