In a video conference with Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender on May 8, the Central Minister expressed concern with the ‘low testing rate,’ while commending the state on other fronts in handling the coronavirus outbreak.
Telangana reported ten new cases of coronavirus on Friday, along with 34 recoveries. Of the 1132 total infections reported so far, 29 people have died, and 376 cases are active.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan held a three-hour-long video conference with the Health Ministers and officials from the states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka, including the District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners from the ‘Red Zones.’
The Health Minister, while appreciating the ‘commitment’ of the state government, which he said was seen from the very beginning of this outbreak, expressed Delhi’s concern with ‘low testing rate’ and urged the state machinery to have more public install the ‘Arogya Setu’ app.
The Central Minister was also appreciative of the Telangana Government in tracing those who traveled to the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Delhi.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan commended Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu for implementing certain ‘unique and good practices’ that could be shared with others.
High Court Questions Telangana COVID-19 testing strategy
Hearing public interest litigation filed by retired professor P.L.Vishweshar Rao on COVID-19, the High Court of Telangana quizzed the state government on its coronavirus testing strategy.
The High Court observed that it did not see where the World Health Organisation (WHO) had advised limiting testing to only those expressing visible symptoms and advised the government a reality check.