Delhi High Court questioned Delhi Government on the wastage of the testing rate of Coronavirus.The Delhi High Court said the coronavirus testing’s rate as compared to the testing being conducted through the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), RT-PCR in Delhi remains “abysmally low”.

In a status report, the court was informed that Geospatial Delhi Limited has prepared a map of 320 testing sites and it has been shared with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for placing it at prominent locations at major Metro stations for public information.

Meanwhile, to notify the court about the Covid-19 Expert Committee’s decision on ramping up RT-PCR testing in the capital, the Delhi government solicited more time.

Court has been informed by the Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain that the Expert Committee is looking into parameters of RT-PCR testing and whether they need to be changed. “We have been doing RT-PCR as per the protocol. The cases which required RT-PCR … it has been conducted in those cases. In some cases, people prefer the shorter route of RAT,” submitted Jain.

The court also said the capacity of around 14,000 RT-PCR tests was being “frittered away” in Delhi. “…which cannot make any sense when the cases of Covid-19 infection in same period between September 14-27 remains in the range of 3,000-4000 except for September 20 when 2,548 positive cases were reported,” said the court.

The highest RT-PCR and other similar testing methods used by the state between September 14 and September 27 on a single day was 11,417 on September 26, observed by the division bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad observed. Each day the numbers are beholding a change and that testing through RT-PCR plummeted to 7,672 on September 27, added the court.

“Why are you wasting your testing capacity,” the court observed. Court also added that compared to RATs,  RT-PCR testing figures are “pathetic”, which are taking place more than 45,000 on an average each day. The court noted in its order that “much emphasis has been constantly laid” by it about ramping up the RT-PCR testing, but “it appears the same has been of no avail”.

Jain also stated that there is a number fluctuation in the capital and no typical trend” was emerging. “This is likely to settle down in 10 days or so. We will have a little better picture,” he submitted, adding that from neighbouring cities and other states’ people are travelling to Delhi in large numbers and occupying private hospitals to the extent of 32-33%.

Satyakam, Additional Standing Counsel of Delhi, submitted the court before the Expert Committee met on September 28, which consider the parameters of RT-PCR testing, contact tracing and areas which need to be focused on more. The court has been informed that in 7-10 days, their report will come and to notify the court about the decision, two weeks are required.