New Delhi, Jun 17 (IANS): To fast track testing in the national capital, the Ministry of Home Affairs after recommendation of a committee has fixed the price for a Covid-19 test at Rs 2,400.

An MHA spokesperson tweeted "As per the directives of HM Amit Shah in providing relief to the common man. High level expert committee's report on #COVID19 testing rates received by @MoHFW_INDIA has been further sent to Delhi Govt for necessary action. It has been decided to fix the test rate at Rs 2,400."

The directives issued to Delhi government is in pursuance of decisions taken by Home Minister on June 14, to double the COVID-19 testing in Delhi.

As per data shared by MHA, total 16,618 test samples were collected on June 15 and 16 while till June 14, the daily collection varied between 4,000-4,500, reports of 6,510 tests were received so far with remaining to be received by June.18

The MHA statement said ,"To improve contact mapping in Delhi's containment zones, health surveys have been started on the directions of Home Minister.

Out of total population of 230,466 in 242 containment zones, survey of 177,692 people was conducted between June 15 and 16. The remaining will be covered by June 20.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel has demanded uniformity of test rates across country.

Patel has said that test rates for Covid should be uniform across all private labs in the country.

"Why should Covid-19 testing charges in private laboratories vary in different parts of the country?"Patel said.

"It's Rs 4,500 in Ahmedabad but Rs 2,200 in Mumbai. Central govt must work with states to enforce a uniform pricing policy for private labs across the country."

In Delhi, the cost of Covid test was initially fixed at Rs 4,500.