“False and Baseless”: MHA denies putting pressure on Delhi govt for not increasing COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 cases in Delhi: Delhi today recorded 1,840 fresh COVID-19 cases, which is the highest single-day spike in August in the national Capital.

According to the data shared by the officials, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi Prisons now stands at 25, including 20 jail staff.
According to the data shared by the officials, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi Prisons now stands at 25, including 20 jail staff.

Coronavirus in Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs today denied allegations that it is putting pressure on the Delhi government not to increase the number of COVID-19 testing. In a series of tweets, the Union Ministry said that any allegation that MHA is putting pressure on Delhi government not to increase testing in city is absolutely without any basis.

“The allegation raised in the letter of the Health Minister of Delhi Govt dated August 27, 2020, which is addressed to Union Home Secretary, to the effect that MHA is putting pressure on Delhi Govt officers not to increase testing in Delhi is false and baseless,” MHA said.

The Union Ministry further pointed out that daily testing in Delhi was increased only was the intervention of Union Home Minister. “In this context, it may be recalled that it was after the intervention of the Union Home Minister that the daily tests in Delhi, which were averaging around 4,000 per day till mid June, 2020, have gone up to around 18-20,000 per day in a calibrated manner,” the MHA tweeted.

“The marked improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Delhi has been possible due to this enhanced testing and other containment measures,” it added.

According to MHA, the letter of the Delhi Health Minister had annexed a note of the officers of the Delhi Government. The MHA said that this note made no mention “whatsoever of any instruction of MHA on the matter of increase in testing in Delhi.”

“The note has only proposed that the views of an Expert Committee headed by Dr V.K Paul may be taken on the proposed enhancement in testing in Delhi, for technical guidance on various issues such as mix of RT-PCR & Rapid Antigen, categories of geographical areas & demographics etc,” MHA said.

Delhi today recorded 1,840 fresh COVID-19 cases, which is the highest single-day spike in August in the national Capital. The total case tally in Delhi has increased to 1,67,604 and death toll has climbed to 4,369, authorities said today.

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This article was first uploaded on August twenty-seven, twenty twenty, at fifty-two minutes past eight in the night.