Karnataka Expedites COVID Test Results

The Karnataka government has stated that it would ensure COVID test results within 7 hours, said Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, the Covid-19 Task Force chairperson, on Wednesday. 

Narayan stated that COVID-19 test results were delivered within seven hours in his constituency at the KC General Hospital in Malleswaram and that the government is trying to expand this process to the entire state. Earlier after samples arrived at the laboratory, it would take 72 hours to get results. Faster results would allow for early detection of infection and treatment to begin, he said.

He also added that those in home isolation would be subjected to blood tests. The blood test will help to know the condition of the infected patient and find out inflammatory markers. Narayan stated that the State is running out of oxygen cylinders and said that the Centre had been requested to allow Karnataka to utilise all the oxygen produced in the state. At present, there is a supply of 850 MT of oxygen to the state, but if the demand increases the state government will make arrangements to get oxygen cylinders from other States or from other countries, he said.