Gudur Narayana Reddy terms CM KCR's move on more coronavirus tests 'too late'

Hyderabad: Welcoming the decision of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to permit private hospitals and labs to test and treat Covid-19 patients, the Congress party described the move as 'too little and too late' in containing the spread of coronavirus in the State.

Speaking to media on Monday, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Treasurer, Gudur Narayana Reddy said the Chief Minister delayed the decision by about one-and-a-half month, although the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) had authorised 18 private hospitals and laboratories to conduct the Covid-19 tests in addition to nine government hospitals or institutions.

He reminded that on April 6, he had appealed to the Chief Minister to issue local guidelines to permit private labs to test for coronavirus. "There were only 334 positive cases and 11 deaths on April 6. It took 69 days for KCR to wake up from slumber and today the tally stands at 5,000 positive cases, including 2,412 active cases and 185 deaths. Massive testing to trace the Covid-19 patients would have helped in their early treatment and we could have prevented the spread of coronavirus and dozens of precious lives. But KCR tried to play the role of a medical expert and did not listen to any advice," he alleged.

Narayana Reddy expressed concern over two TRS MLAs Muttireddy Yadagiri Reddy (Jangaon) and Bajireddy Govardhan (Nizamabad Rural) testing positive for coronavirus and prayed for their early recovery.

He said that it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister's negligent attitude has put the lives of public representatives in danger. Since testing was not done at a large scale, many Covid-19 patients were moving freely while spreading the deadly disease.

Narayana Reddy said that the Chief Minister should not fix the number of coronavirus tests to 50,000 in five most affected districts, especially Hyderabad.