Bengaluru: A fine of Rs. 20 lakh has been imposed on Government and Private Laboratories for delay in uploading results of COVID-19 tests, said Deputy Chief Minister and State COVID-19 Ministerial Task Force Chairman Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan.

These figures were shared by Shalini Rajneesh, State  Nodal Head, In-Charge of COVID Testing, at a meeting convened by the Minister here on Monday. 

The total number of cases, where results were delayed for more than 24 hours since May 8 is 10,103 and this included both Government and Private Labs. About nine Government and 31 Private Labs were penalised. Out of these, 3,034 cases belong to Government Labs and the remaining 7,069 cases are from Private Labs. The concerned Labs have been fined Rs. 200 for each case. Besides, five Labs have been closed/penalised for sharing positive reports without uploading them on Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) COVID-19 Data Portal and show cause notices have been issued in 41 cases for delay in uploading samples, Shalini informed the Minister.

COVID tests should be increased and for each positive case, four tests need to be done for which Task Forces at Village Panchayat-level should actively involve in identifying the infected.