Mangaluru: In the wake of a spike in Covid cases, the district administration has reopened the RT-PCR testing facility at Talapady check post on National Highway 66 to enable regular commuters between Kerala and Karnataka to undergo the test for COVID-19.

About 300 people have been undergoing tests at the check post daily since the last two days, though the officials are not insisting on the production of RT-PCR negative certificates.

The Health Department has posted four staff in the morning and evening shifts at the testing centre. While three persons do the registration, one technician collects the nasal and throat swabs. At the end of the day, the samples are taken to the Government Wenlock Hospital for testing.

Three Home Guards each have been posted for the morning, evening,and night shifts since Friday for checking COVID-19 negative certificates. We told regular commuters to carry certificates from Saturday. When we started checking the certificates from Saturday, there was a heated exchange of words with a few motorists. Then we were asked to stop. We are awaiting further instructions,” said a Home Guard.