Despite the surge in covid-19 cases, the 47 private laboratories approved by the government have been operating at a fraction of their capacity due to an acute shortage of testing kits and symptomatic people staying away due to the fear of being ostracized, said top executives of three of India’s largest private chains. “To be very honest, the eligible ones want to escape.
The normal ones, out of curiosity, want testing. This is the unfortunate part," A. Velumani, chairman and managing director, Thyrocare Technologies, said over the telephone, adding that the stigma around the disease is keeping people away. “Unfortunately, some also believe the storm will pass in a fortnight after acquiring the disease," he said.