Delhi Residents Can Now Avail Free COVID-19 Tests At Mobile RT-PCR Lab; Results Available In 6 Hours

The RT-PCR test will be done for Rs 499. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that ICMR will bear this cost and hence, the test will be absolutely free for people of Delhi.

(Photo by NOAH SEELAM / AFP)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a mobile laboratory at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) headquarters in New Delhi that will conduct free RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19 for residents of the national capital. Shah recently ramped up efforts to tackle the worsening Coronavirus situation in Delhi as the number of COVID-19 cased surged in the national capital in past few weeks. Working with a close coordination of various wings of the Centre and the Delhi government, Shah launched a joint initiative of the SpiceHealth and the government and introduced the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing mobile laboratory on Monday, in presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. RT-PCR Test Free Of Cost For Delhi Residents The RT-PCR test, which in some states costs as high as Rs 2,400, will be done for Rs 499. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that ICMR will bear this cost and hence, the test will be absolutely free for people of Delhi. Moreover, the test report will also be generated in a record time of 6 hours after sample collections compared to 24-48 hours. Coronavirus Delhi Updates According to Delhi Health Department, the National Capital reported 4,454 new COVID-19 cases, 7,216 recoveries, and 121 deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, total cases till date are 5,34,317; total recoveries 4,88,476, Active cases 37,329 and Death toll 8,512. On whole, India's total India's total cases have crossed 91 Lakh mark with 44,059 new Covid-19 infections in past 24 hours. According to the latest figures, death toll mounts to 1,33,738 with 511 new fatalities in last one day. Earlier today, a three judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam state governments to file affidavits on the steps taken so far by them. Expressing concern over the resurgence of Covid-19 wave, the apex court said all states must prepare for coming months.