HC asks Jharkhand govt to approach Centre for more COVID-19 testing kits

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HC asks Jharkhand govt to approach Centre for more COVID-19 testing kits
Ranchi, Apr 7 () The Jharkhand High Court onTuesday asked the state government to approach the Centre forproviding it with more COVID-19 testing kits as the presentstrength of the equipment is not sufficient.

The bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and JusticeSujit Narayan Prasad also directed the state government to setup testing facilities at more places.

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In response to a March 31 letter emailed by seniorcounsel Inderjit Sinha, the bench had on April 3 asked thestate government about measures taken by it to contain COVID-19 and the availability of protective equipment and testingkits.

The court on Tuesday heard submissions of the counselsof the Jharkhand government and state-run the RajendraInstitute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here.

"We have heard the parties. Reply has been filed onbehalf of the State as well as RIMS, Ranchi and reply of Unionof India was already available on 03.04.2020.

"However, having only 5000 testing kits and more than1,50,000 persons having been quarantined till date, in ouropinion, that number of testing kit is not sufficient.Therefore, the State Government should approach the CentralGovernment for providing more testing kits and for creatingtesting facilities at more places," the bench said in itsorder.

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The court said it has hope that the Centre would takeadequate steps if the state government approached it for moretesting kits and testing facilities.

The bench observed said that people are required to bemonitored intensively and it should be ensured that they didnot come out from their homes.

The court said the number of private homes wherepeople have been home quarantined was not clear from theadvocate general's submission.

The bench sought further reply from the state on April17 when the matter would be heard again. PVRNN NN
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