Andhra Pradesh govt. nods for private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests

The Andhra Pradesh government has reportedly made a key decision on Friday giving permission to private labs and hospitals for conducting Coronavirus tests. The government on Friday released a notice to conduct COVID-19 tests in private lab. However, the hospitals are entitled to submit proposals to the government to ensure that they are capable of performing tests. Andhra Pradesh issued directives to eligible private labs to submit the proposal.

While only the labs identified by the NABL and ICMR are permitted to conduct the tests. The decision comes as coronavirus cases are on the rise among those coming from other states and countries. The government has asked private labs to test the samples sent by the government when necessary. The government has also finalized the price of of tests to be conducted, which is stipulated at Rs. 2,900 per test.

Meanwhile, in the latest media health bulletin released by the state nodal officer, as many as 141 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours with which the total number of cases mounts to 4402. As per the bulletin issued by the Health Department, there are 1723 active cases and 2599 persons recovered and discharged till date.