No Lockdown In State, Coronavirus Testing Prices Announced

Health Minister Etala Rajender today said that there would be no lockdown extension in Telangana despite the rise in Covid-19 cases in five districts.

He also announced the prices for coronavirus testing in private labs and hospitals, and said that they could not violate the guidelines for testing.

Rajender said that the government had fixed Rs 2,200 as the price for a coronavirus test at a private laboratory.

Corporate hospitals can charge Rs 4,000 per day from mild Covid-19 positive patients for isolation facilities, Rs 7,500 per day from positive patients who need Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facilities but not ventilator support, and Rs 9,000 per day from critical Covid-19 positive patients who need both ICU and ventilator support.

People who can afford them can take coronavirus tests in private labs and hospitals, the minister said. Coronavirus testing would not be brought under the Aarogyasri scheme, he added.

The government has taken a decision to conduct more testing in five districts showing a rise in cases - 50,000 tests will be conducted (government testing is free) in the next 10 days in 30 Assembly segments in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal, Vikarabad and Sangareddy. However, no tests will still be conducted for those without symptoms.

The ICMR had stated that there was no community transfer of the virus in Telangana, the minister claimed.