From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 2: The state government has decided to set up COVID-19 testing lab in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and the tender process will be completed within this week, medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said in Bengaluru on Friday.

He was speaking after inaugurating the new COVID-19 Testing lab by Eurofins Clinical Genetics India (ECGI) in Whitefield.

The minister said the decision to increase COVID-19 testing by three times has been taken on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

To support the decision to increase the testing facilities, he said tender will be floated by the health and medical education departments to set up RT-PCR machines within two weeks. 

He said that 144 labs have been inaugurated in a matter of six months. The Eurofins lab, which was inaugurated today is expected to conduct up to 5,000 tests per day. 

"Despite creating awareness about the spread of coronavirus, the positive cases are increasing in the state due to lack of awareness on the part of people. Hence, the government has taken strict action by hiking the penalty to Rs 1,000 for not wearing masks at public places,’’ Dr Sudhakar said.

Though positive cases are on the high in the state, he said the death rate is under control, at 1.52%.

The state has achieved a new milestone by conducting 50 lac COVID19 tests per day.

The state government aims to increase the number to 1.5 lac per day, the minister added.