COVID-19 swab sticks are packed in unhygienic conditions in Thane slums in Maharashtra.

Police informed that households in Thane district's Ulhasnagar were seen packing swab sticks used in COVID-19 testing without adhering to hygiene.

Police informed that households in Thane district's Ulhasnagar were seen packing swab sticks used in COVID-19 testing without adhering to hygiene.A video is in circulation showing swab sticks being packed at a slum in the Thane district under unhygienic conditions. These plastic sticks are used to collect nasal or throat samples for the RT-PCR testing of COVID-19 patients. As per clinical norms, such medical items need to be packed in a sterile environment.

Soon after the video became viral, the local police and Municipal Corporation (UMC) in Ulhasnagar raided 10 houses and seized the leftover stocks of the swab sticks. The swab materials were distributed by a local supplier named Manish Keshwani. The authorities seized the raw materials and booked the contractor under IPC and Epidemic Diseases Act.

The FDA officials said the packed kits have 'Bio-swab' written on them without batch number or expiry date and confirmed that they had approved no such manufacturer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.