<p>A race by a BBMP Covid-19 swab collection team to accumulate the highest number of samples in a single day in a Covid-hit area netted just one positive case who is said to be a serial mask violator. </p>.<p>The low number has been attributed to the outbreak having potentially peaked in the area, according to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). </p>.<p>On November 1, a team with 21-year-old swab collector Harshith N Y, a recent college graduate in one of five collection teams in the Gottigere ward, collected an astonishing 452 swabs by aggressively canvassing the densely populated Weavers’ Colony. </p>.<p>The positive case, a 58-year-old male, had previously been confronted by BBMP marshals for his refusal to wear masks, the Palike said.</p>.<p>The man who was asymptomatic has since been placed in home isolation. </p>.<p>A data analyst with the BBMP said that the number of positive cases had dramatically declined in the ward suggesting that “peeking” had happened.</p>.<p>“In October, 100 tests would net about 15 positive cases. However, from this month, about 500 tests are netting about 1-2 cases daily,” he said. </p>.<p>Meantime, the new collection number breaks the previous record of 400 swabs collected in a single day by volunteers in RR Nagar, sources said. </p>.<p>Weavers’ Colony, with a population of 25,000, is known for its densely populated streets, a high number of tradesmen and shops, where social-distancing violations are common.</p>.<p>According to the BBMP, the colony has been battling an ongoing Covid-19 spread. </p>.<p>Official data shows that the Gottigere ward has seen 151 cases in the last 14 days, out of which 65% are said to be<br />concentrated in Weavers’ Colony. </p>.<p>Harshith, who said that he lives in the colony, said that his team of seven people, including six data operators, did not know how successful they would be.</p>.<p>He complained of often violent resistance to testing by members of the public. </p>.<p>“We started early at 7.30 am in a bid to catch people early and finished at 11.30 am,” he said.</p>.<p>Sanjana B M, a KAS officer and a Covid-19 nodal officer in the Bommanahalli zone, said the team had set out trying to set a record and had six data operators to facilitate the rapid processing of test subjects. </p>
<p>A race by a BBMP Covid-19 swab collection team to accumulate the highest number of samples in a single day in a Covid-hit area netted just one positive case who is said to be a serial mask violator. </p>.<p>The low number has been attributed to the outbreak having potentially peaked in the area, according to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). </p>.<p>On November 1, a team with 21-year-old swab collector Harshith N Y, a recent college graduate in one of five collection teams in the Gottigere ward, collected an astonishing 452 swabs by aggressively canvassing the densely populated Weavers’ Colony. </p>.<p>The positive case, a 58-year-old male, had previously been confronted by BBMP marshals for his refusal to wear masks, the Palike said.</p>.<p>The man who was asymptomatic has since been placed in home isolation. </p>.<p>A data analyst with the BBMP said that the number of positive cases had dramatically declined in the ward suggesting that “peeking” had happened.</p>.<p>“In October, 100 tests would net about 15 positive cases. However, from this month, about 500 tests are netting about 1-2 cases daily,” he said. </p>.<p>Meantime, the new collection number breaks the previous record of 400 swabs collected in a single day by volunteers in RR Nagar, sources said. </p>.<p>Weavers’ Colony, with a population of 25,000, is known for its densely populated streets, a high number of tradesmen and shops, where social-distancing violations are common.</p>.<p>According to the BBMP, the colony has been battling an ongoing Covid-19 spread. </p>.<p>Official data shows that the Gottigere ward has seen 151 cases in the last 14 days, out of which 65% are said to be<br />concentrated in Weavers’ Colony. </p>.<p>Harshith, who said that he lives in the colony, said that his team of seven people, including six data operators, did not know how successful they would be.</p>.<p>He complained of often violent resistance to testing by members of the public. </p>.<p>“We started early at 7.30 am in a bid to catch people early and finished at 11.30 am,” he said.</p>.<p>Sanjana B M, a KAS officer and a Covid-19 nodal officer in the Bommanahalli zone, said the team had set out trying to set a record and had six data operators to facilitate the rapid processing of test subjects. </p>