'A great step': Anil Kapoor lauds Maha Govt's initiative to boost COVID testing in Mumbai

People can test mselves for coronavirus infection at designated private laboratories in Mumbai without a doctor's prescription, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Tuesday. civic body also informed that those kept in institutional quarantine will be discharged only when y test negative for virus.

Welcoming BMC move, cabinet minister of Mumbai suburban district Aitya Thackeray said it will make citizens feel safer. " @mybmc has decided to open up testing to any individual in city without prescription/ self attestation. Labs can w conduct RT PCR tests as per ICMR guidelines at will of anyone. This will help citizens feel safer and test when y have a doubt, without any delays," Thackeray tweeted.

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Lauding this 'great' step, Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor said that this was very much needed. He furr went on to say that Government has handled 'information and people's safety well so far and is commendable'.

Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal took decision to allow testing without medical prescription in view of increase in number of private laboratories and ir capacity, it said in a release. It will help people get treatment for coronavirus quicker, it ded.

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Earlier, a doctor's prescription was needed for a test. "If test comes out positive, a (hospital) bed will be allotted through ward-level 'War Rooms' of municipal corporation," BMC release said. Patients in institutional isolation will t be released unless y test negative, it said. For testing, private labs can charge rates fixed by government.

Union government has given permission to conduct coronavirus tests to 17 private laboratories in city. Private labs can charge Rs 2,500 for a COVID-19 test. rate is Rs 2,800 if test is conducted at home. As per BMC, 3,63,120 tests have been conducted in city so far.

(with PTI inputs)