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Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia takes over health min after Satyendar Jain tests COVID-19 positive

Jain was admitted to a hospital after suffering from high fever. He has had the coronavirus test twice so far. The second report on Wednesday evening showed him positive.

Published: 18th June 2020 12:57 PM  |   Last Updated: 19th June 2020 07:51 AM   |  A+A A-

Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and health minister Satyendar Jain address the press. (Photo | PTI)

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday took over the charge of health, PWD, power and other departments held by his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain, who has tested positive for Covid-19, an official said.

Jain will remain the Cabinet minister without any portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal government until he recovers, he said, adding, “The deputy chief minister has been given the charge of health, public works department, power and other departments.”     Sisodia also said that the Delhi government has decided to cap the rate of COVID-19 RT-PCR test at Rs 2,400.

“Delhi government decided to cap the rates for Covid RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test @ Rs 2400/- inclusive of all charges (sic),” Sisodia tweeted.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that the price of Covid-19 test in Delhi would be fixed at Rs 2,400 as suggested by a high-level committee set up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and now tests will be done via Rapid Antigen methodology.

The testing method involves looking for antibodies which are produced when the body is exposed to a pathogen.

Sisodia though mentioned that in the initial phase, these tests will be conducted only on those who live in containment zones, he added.

Earlier, Lt. Governor Anil Baijal directed officials to closely monitor emerging situations by ramping up testing, and house-to-house survey in containment zones.

(With agency inputs)