[COVID-19] Take action against labs that don't give RT-PCR test results in 24 hours: Karnataka High Court to State

Addressing the reported lack of hospital beds, oxygen and Remdesivir amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday passed a set of pertinent directions to the State government. .The directions passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar read as follows: .Failure to provide test results in a reasonable time is creating very serious issues. We direct State to implement the same scrupulously. We direct State to take action against those labs that don't give RT-PCR tests results in 24 hours. Even non-Covid critically ill patients and pregnant women are not admitted in hospitals unless they produce negative RT-PCR reports. State will have to seriously consider a policy ensuring that in those cases where there are no symptoms, compulsion will not be made for a negative RT-PCR test.State to consider having separate queues for pregnant women and senior citizens for taking Covid tests in labs.If patients are unable to get Remdesivir in adequate quantities, then it is a violation of Article 19. We direct State to give real-time updates of quantities of the said drug in all shops. State to appoint officers to ensure that black marketing of Remdesivir is eliminated. To avoid all controversy, State to consider whether it can directly buy the drug from manufacturers or dealers and then supply to hospitals.On the point of supply of oxygen, the existence of any mechanism for hospitals that badly need to procure oxygen has not been stated (in written submissions of State).State to immediately consider having some kind of distribution system where State itself can provide the same to hospitals.AAG states that the State government nominated its own officers in each oxygen manufacturing unit. Necessary details to be placed on record on the next date.Another issue is on lack of crematoriums. Serious concern expressed about overburdening staff and furnaces breaking down due to overuse. State has to step in and provide additional facilities for crematoriums.There are 13 crematoriums put of which only 7 are put to use. State to apply its mind to explain why are the remaining 6 are not being utilized.Christian community facing a serious crisis as there is no place to bury bodies. State will have to step in to resolve this issue. All orders passed by the Court from time to time (in Covid-related matters) will continue to operate in full force..This apart, the Court also extended till May 29 interim orders of bail and pre-arrest bail, which are likely to expire between April 23 and May 1..The Court was hearing a case registered suo motu after it received two letters highlighting various difficulties faced by COVID-19 positive patients in the State..The Bench was prompted to issue these directions after it received a letter stating that COVID-19 drugs are being sold on the black market. The letter also raised concerns of lack of beds and oxygen in hospitals within the State. .The matter will be next heard on April 23..Even ex-Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy could not secure hospital bed after testing positive for COVID-19: Lawyer tells Karnataka High Court