HYDERABAD: With a spike in
Covid-19 cases across the state, people are making a beeline for
Covid-19 tests (both antigen and RT-PCR) at testing centres. From less than 50 tests a day, many centres are now seeing at least 200 tests a day.
Experts anticipate the numbers will go up further. Among those who are increasingly getting tested are students, employees at various shops and bankers. Meanwhile,
Telangana recorded 495 new cases of
Covid-19 on Saturday and two deaths. The number of active cases in the state has now touched 4,241.
When it comes to RT-PCR tests specifically, centres which were seeing just one or two tests a day are now conducting 25 to 30 tests a day.
“I had got an RT-PCR test done last month as part of my office requirement. At that time there was not a single person waiting before me. This time when I went for a test, I had to stand for half an hour as there were about 15 people before me,” said Lasya V, a software professional, who had visited a corporate hospital at Banjara Hills.
The government testing centre at King Koti is seeing workers from shops across city markets and students line up for tests. “Employers and shopkeepers are sending their workers in groups for testing. Besides them, students from educational institutes, bank employees and those living in hostels are coming for tests in lareg numbers. Every day we are getting calls from hostel wardens to test their students after one or two tested positive,” said Dr Mallikarjun, from the King Koti Hospital. The testing centre at the hospital had 200 people seeking tests on Friday. “Our out-patients (OP) have increased from 140 a week back to 222 today and we have 100 Covid patients currently admitted,” added the doctor.
While the number of samples landing for testing as well as patients are increasing, hospitals are expecting a further spike in numbers by April 15. “Currently, numbers have already increased a lot in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad and are slowly increasing in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is the same pattern of increase seen during the first wave too. Right now the increase we are seeing here is sporadic which will gradually spike by April 15,” said Dr PS Rakesh Prabhu, chief medical officer, Medicover hospitals group.