Delhi: Centre to conduct 6 lakh rapid COVID tests; additional ventilators to be provided

Centre has decided to conduct six lakh rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at 169 new facilities in Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday. minister said that Government of India will provide 500 ventilators and 650 ambulances to Delhi government.

Reddy said that central government gave Rs 277 crore to Delhi government for equipments.

"Coronavirus cases in Delhi are increasing. On directions of PM Modi, 169 rapid antigen detection testing centres have been set up to test everyone residing in containment zones of Delhi. centres will provide test results within 30 minutes. 50,000 kits have been provided to se 169 centres so far. Centre has decided to do testing of six lakh people. se testing kits have been imported from South Korea," Reddy told reporters.

"In every containment zone of Delhi, all people including affected, n-affected, symptomatic or asymptomatic will be tested for free. Central government will bear cost of tests," he said.

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'Rapid Antigen Testing Begins In National Capital; Test Rates Slashed': CM Kejriwal

Providing update over situation of Coronavirus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that  Centre on Wednesday capped price of RT-PCR test in Delhi at Rs. 2,400. Earlier, it used to cost ₹4,500. He added that in a bid to ramp up coronavirus testing facility in capital, Delhi government is all set to start rapid antigen tests from Thursday.

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COVID-19 situation in Delhi

deaths from COVID-19 in city mounted to 1,837 on Tuesday while 1,859 fresh coronavirus cases took tally in national capital to over 44,000-mark, according to health bulletin released by Delhi government. death toll from COVID-19 in Delhi stood at 1,400 on Monday.

Ninety-three fatalities have been recorded in last 24 hours, Delhi Health Department bulletin said. However, bulletin also said cumulative figure included all pending deaths reported to and audited by Death Audit Committee.

From June 12-14, over 2,000 cases were reported per day in city. highest spike of 2,224 fresh cases was recorded on June 14. bulletin said death toll from coronavirus infection has climbed to 1,837, and total number of cases mounted to 44,688

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