Pune: RT-PCR Covid Test Report Delayed For Days; Citizens, Administration Wonder How People Are Travelling? 

Sumit Singh

Pune, 17 April 2021: Many private laboratories in the district are not giving the COVID19 test reports on time. Now, there are delays in getting the RT-PCR reports on time even at testing centres coming under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and cantonment boards.

Krishnan, a resident of Bopodi, and his one-year child and wife have been suffering for the last 10 days due to mismanagement by the government. Initially, the family displayed COVID-19 symptoms and they were in home isolation. After a day, they tried to contact a private laboratory for getting tested for COVID-19. However, all slots for testing have been booked for a week. They booked slots for testing at a few private labs which kept getting canceled.  Finally, after six days of isolation, the family visited the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) hospital and got the RT-PCR test done on the same day. But now, the family is still waiting for the result of their COVID-19 test.

“It is a very scary situation as we don’t know what to do and what the next step for us added Krishnan.

When contacted Pramod Kumar Singh, CEO of Khadki Cantonment Board, said, “Our officials, as well as our patients and staff, are also in home isolation for three to four days awaiting the results of their RT-PCR test. Earlier, we used to get the results from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) the very next day. Now, however, the reports are sent to Sassoon Hospital and they are taking more than three days to send the results back. People can spread the virus while roaming in the markets if they have not gotten their COVID-19 results. It can quickly become a community spread transmission due to negligence.”

RT-PCR Within 72 hours must for air travel to other states 

As per the data shared by Pune airport, around 43 flights were scheduled for Friday. Over 3,000 passengers departed from the Pune airport daily. Most of which, depart for the states where carrying a negative RT-PCR report is mandatory.

Many people have taken to Twitter to show their anger over the issue. They are enraged over it as the authorities ask for a negative RT-PCR report which is less than 72 hours old and they are unable to provide those since they haven’t received the reports even after four days.

How can we travel with RTPCR tests report prior 3 days when in delhi it is taking 4 days to receive and in Pune more than 5days. Moreover my home is 300 kms away from Pune which allowed to use public transport only for essential puporses. How can people can travel ?

— chinmay khuba (@ChinmayKhuba) April 16, 2021

@AirAsiaIndian @AVA_airasia pls reply. What do we do if we do not get our rtpcr reports on time?the labs are overburdened, none of them is giving report in 3 days. Will we be allowed to fly? Delhi-pune route

— Nidhi Ghai (@NidhiGhai28) April 16, 2021

How people are getting RT-PCR reports within two days and traveling to other states while we have been waiting to get the reports from the last four days, said a resident from Aundh, who did not wish to be identified.

As per the latest rule, a negative RT-PCR report is mandatory for passengers traveling from Maharashtra to many other states. The test report should not be older than 72 hours before departure. Flyers not carrying a negative RT-PCR report will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine and few of the states have clearly said they should not board the plane from Maharashtra with the negative report.

Patna district authority has said that a 10-day home quarantine is compulsory for passengers with a negative RT-PCR report taken within 72 hours.

Note: We have also sent a query regarding the delay in getting COVID19 reports to Pune District Collector Rajesh Deshmukh to know the exact situation but he has not responded yet. The report will be updated once we get a response from him.

People Miss Flights As They Are Unable To Get Mandatory RT-PCR COVID Test Reports On-Time