COVID-19: Delhi HC says people voluntarily seeking RT-PCR test won't require prescription

Three days after Centre permitted on-demand COVID-19 testing, Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed that people voluntarily seeking RT-PCR test to detect COVID-19 will t require doctor's prescription for same and that y can walk-in for a test with an Aadhaar card having a Delhi address.

decision anunced by Centre on Saturday came after  recommendations of National Task Force on vel coronavirus.

petition filed by advocate Rakesh Malhotra sought directions to conduct large scale rapid testing in national capital for identifying infected people. A division bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said that people seeking COVID-19 testing will be required to produce ir Aadhaar card having a Delhi address and fill an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) form for testing.

Furr, in a bid to increase testing, bench directed private labs to give preference to samples sent by Delhi government as government plans to conduct around 12,000 RT-PCR tests in a day. It also asked private labs to facilitate around 2,000 tests for asymptomatic patients per day.

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India Introduces 'on-demand' Testing Without Prescription

As per official statement, individuals who wish to get tested and those undertaking travel to countries/Indian states mandating a negative COVID-19 test at point of entry can get an "on-demand" test.  ministry said that new advisory has furr simplified testing process and given more freedom and flexibilities to State authorities to facilitate enhanced ease of testing for people.

"For first time, along with more simplified modalities, updated guidelines provide for 'On-demand' testing in order to ensure higher levels of testing. A totally new section has been added in advisory on 'testing on demand' which for all practical purposes does away with prescription by a registered medical practitioner although state governments have freedom to decide on simplified modalities," read release.

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COVID in Delhi

  national capital recorded 2,077 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking tally to over 1.93 lakh, while death toll mounted to 4,599, authorities said. Thirty-two fatalities were recorded in last 24 hours, according to Delhi government's latest health bulletin.

bulletin said 7,804 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 15,150 rapid antigen tests were conducted in last 24 hours.

READ: COVID-19: India introduces 'on-demand' testing without prescription

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(With Inputs from ANI)