After High Court’s direction, this State to test 50,000 people for Covid-19

Faced with criticism from all sides & a direction from the High Court of Telangana to boost testing for Coronavirus, the State Govt on Sunday decided to step up testing for the COVID-19 in Hyderabad & surrounding districts in the next ten days.

After a high-level review meeting with senior officials, CM K Chandrasekhar Rao directed that the medical & health department conduct tests on 50,000 people in 30 assembly constituencies falling under Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Medchel, & Sangareddy districts in next one week to 10 days.

For the first time, the State Govt also decided to allow private hospitals & private laboratories, approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), to conduct Coronavirus tests & provide treatment to those who test positive.

Last month, the HC had ordered the State Govt to allow authorised private labs in the state to conduct Covid-19 tests and private hospitals to treat such patients.

KCR instructed the officials to prepare guidelines for the private hospitals & labs to conduct Covid-19 tests, offer treatment & the fee to be paid strictly following the central guidelines.

On Sunday, Telangana reported three deaths & 237 fresh cases of Covid-19, including 195 cases in Hyderabad alone. Among those who tested positive were TRS MLA Bajireddy Goverdhan from Nizamabad, an official working in the health ministry as Officer on Special Duty for health minister Eatala Rajender & 23 journalists working for various media houses.

Telangana’s Covid-19 tally has now gone up to 4,974 including 2,412 active cases. There have been 185 casualties so far.

An official release from the chief minister’s office (CMO) said KCR had directed that strict measures be taken to contain the spread of COVID Hyderabad & its surrounding areas.

He directed that tests be conducted for detection of Covid-19 aggressively by utilising the services of the private labs & hospitals in this regard.

He said, “Offer home quarantine for those who test positive but have no serious symptoms".

He asked the people not to panic & follow the personal hygiene & precautions.

He said that “The government is ready to offer treatment to the Covid-19 patients whatever may be their number. Test Kits, PPE Kits, ventilators, ICU beds, beds, masks are available with the government adequately".

Source Link