'Rapid antigen testing begins in the 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.

ICMR on Tuesday wrote a letter to Centre calling to ramp up testing for COVID-19 in Delhi containment zones and hospitals by use of rapid antigen detection test. 

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On Wednesday, Ministry of Home Affairs had anunced that price of COVID-19 test in Delhi has been fixed at Rs 2,400 as suggested by a high-level committee set up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday and w tests will be done via Rapid Antigen methodology.

ministry's spokesperson had said that to improve contact mapping in Delhi's containment zones, health surveys have been started on Shah's directions, and out of a population of 2,30,466 people in 242 containment zones, survey of 1,77,692 people was conducted between June 15 and 16. remaining will be covered by June 20.

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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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