Health officials have been deployed at two key border points to conduct random COVID-19 tests of commuters travelling interstate in northern India's National Capital Region (NCR). The testing began early morning on November 18 along Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) Flyway and at Chilla.

Visuals show random people being tested by personal protective equipment (PPE)-clad health care workers using swabs. Policemen can also be seen positioned at the desks to ensure proper implementation of the same.

The tests are being conducted through the rapid antigen-based tests, which provide results in approximately 15 minutes. Further action is being taken based on the results.

Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Deepak Ohri stated that on being found positive, the commuters are being sent back to Delhi. Only those who are testing negative are being allowed to enter Noida.

He added that a similar campaign will be held at Ashok Nagar on the same day, and at Botanical Garden Metro Station in Noida on November 19.

These tests are being conducted to assess the spread of infection and would help in issuing advisories to employers and organisations where a large number of people work and commute between Gautam Buddh Nagar and adjacent areas.

The national capital witnessed a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases since October 28 when the daily rise breached the 5,000 mark for the first time and the 8,000 mark on November 11. It has recorded around 1,200 deaths between November 1 and November 16.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, said that his government will write to the Centre for permission to shut some busy markets down, which could be potential hotspots for the virus, and cap the number of guests at weddings at 50.

The Centre had stepped in again to control the coronavirus situation in the Capital. On November 17, the Union Health Ministry listed the actions taken by the Centre to tackle the coronavirus situation in Delhi. These include doubling the tests conducted daily to at least 100,000.