NOIDA: Wrong coronavirus test results endangered 35 people

ADMINISTRATION SENDS NOTICE TO HOSPITAL LABS

Wrong coronavirus test results endangered 35 people in Noida, who were forced to spend three days in the COVID-19 ward of a hospital after private labs allegedly botched up their virus reports.

Investigations of the Noida Health Department have revealed that these 35 people had consulted private doctors on complaints of mild fever, cough and cold. They were reportedly advised to take coronavirus tests and for that, they went to private labs.

The test results came out positive for all 35, after which they were sent to government isolation facilities. When their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, all 35 tested negative. This alarmed health officials. "Six labs have come to our notice over lapses in COVID-19 tests. An FIR has been filed against one and we have sent notice to the others," said Noida Chief Medical Officer Deepak Ohri.

Mr Ohri said action would be taken based on how the labs responded to the notice. "Some of these labs are not even authorized to carry out COVID-19 tests, but they were doing it for money," he alleged.