People from across the country observed the janata curfew today but at 5 pm, people showed up outside their homes, or in their balconies at the request of the Prime Minister in order to pay audible gratitude to all employees providing essential services at these times.
Meanwhile, private laboratories will now be able to test for COVID-19 under guidelines issued by the ICMR. The COVID-19 tests in private labs can be done upon producing a prescription by a qualified physician as per ICMR guidelines.
The ICMR has recommended to private labs that the cost of testing should not exceed Rs 4,500. It has also encouraged labs to conduct free or subsidised tests in the time of this national public health emergency. Under the guidelines issued by the ICMR, they have said the private labs preferably undertake home collection of samples because this can help avoid contact of suspected people with others.
ICMR has also recommended that the test results of each case should be shared with the ICMR HQ in real-time for appropriate control measures.