HC suggests mass testing of COVID-19 in UP

Allahabad High Court on Thursday suggested Uttar Pradesh government to do mass testing of COVID-19 in state.

"To begin with forming a procedure for city of Prayagraj to undergo mass systematic testing and if we are able to succeed in experiment n rest of district of Prayagraj and reafter all districts of State of UP can emulate process, court said.

bench comprising Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ajit Kumar passed order in response to a Public Interest Litigation on condition of quarantine centers in state.

HC also asked Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to apprise it on issue of installation of COVID-19 testing machines on a large scale in state.

"When Prime Minister talked to chief ministers of various states, he stressed on importance of widespread testing. If widespread testing is done n people who are t infected can go out to work fearlessly and help country to change sprouting ecomy into a lush green one.

If systematic tests are done n people who are infected would t go out and would surely quarantine mselves in ir homes or in accommodations provided by government, it said.

Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, who was representing state government, informed court that so far 1,865 COVID-19 hotspots have been declared in rrn state.

He also informed court that 17.06 lakh migrant labourers had been tested and 3,950 tested positive for disease.

court fixed June 25 as next date of hearing in case.