The Haryana Government on Tuesday reduced the rate of the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Antigen tests for private laboratories from Rs 700 to Rs 499 while the charge forhome collection has been capped from Rs 900 to Rs 699, with immediate effect, DG, Health and Family Welfare, Suraj Bhan Kamboj said.

This is the sixth time the Haryana Government has reduced the price for Covid-19 testing through the RT-PCR at private laboratories, he added.

The DG Health said that an order has been issued to all the private hospitals and laboratories in the State, warning that any violation by them would come under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. The rate has been fixed after due consideration by experts, he added. “The test should be done in case of suspicion of coronavirus infection and the most reliable test among all tests is considered to be the RT-PCR test. Now the government has revised its maximum rate and no hospital or lab operator can charge more than that. This cost is applicable only for state residents and will encourage more people to come forward for more tests,” he added.

FOUR DEATHS, 153 NEW CASES IN HARYANA

Four coronavirus deaths on Tuesday reported in Haryana, taking the fatality toll to 2,993 even as 153 fresh cases pushed the State’s infection tally to 2,66,581, official data showed.

According to the State Health department’s daily bulletin, a fatality each was reported from Gurugram, Rohtak, Rewari and Panchkula districts.

Among other districts to report new cases included Gurugram (31) and Faridabad (19). The number of active cases in the State were 1,837, as many as 2,61,751 have so far been discharged after being cured, while the recovery rate was 98.19 per cent.