CHANDIGARH: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented and unanticipated challenges requiring collective action and support from all, said Health & Family Minister, Punjab S. Balbir Singh Sidhu. He stated that to contain the spread of disease, it is very important to detect the infection at the earliest. He further said that one of the main reason for spread of disease and mortality is that people having symptoms report to health facilities very late and delay their testing for COVID-19.
Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab appealed that anyone having even mild symptoms like Fever, Cough, breathlessness, body aches, fatigue, loss of taste & smell, sore throat, running nose etc. or a suspicion of exposure to a COVID-19 positive patient should report to health facilities at the earliest and get tested for COVID-19.
Balbir Singh Sidhu informed that for getting tested no prescription from doctor is required and those testing positive and are asymptomatic or mild symptomatic need not be admitted to hospitals and can opt for home isolation, if they have facilities.
Health & Family Minster, Punjab disclosed that testing is available free of cost at all Government Health Facilities. The list of approx. 600 Government (All District Hospitals, Sub Divisional Hospitals & Community Health Centers) and 52 ICMR approved private testing centers is available at the website link http://pbhealth.gov.in/Contact%20Details%20of%20COVID-19%20Testing%20Centers.pdf. Some private labs provide facility of home collection of samples.
He further added that to cap the cost of testing and make it affordable Government has capped the cost of testing for COVID-19 at maximum Rs. 2400/- for RT-PCR inclusive of GST/Taxes, it also includes any cost involved in home collection of samples. For antigen testing at private labs the cost of has been capped at maximum Rs. 1000/- including GST/Taxes and any cost involved in home collection of samples.