Watch Live! Indian Council of Medical Research briefs media on Covid-19

India could soon have private centres test people to identify if they carry the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), hinted Balram Bhargava, the director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, on March 17, 2020. Already, 51 labs have been accredited, he said. A physicians referral for such tests would be essential. 

Bhargava appealed to private labs to help out for free. He, however, pointed out that India was a democracy and nothing could be made mandatory.

The country has 72 test centres, with more in the pipeline, he said. One million testing kits were also ordered, according to him.

Balram Bhargava, director-general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on Tuesday confirmed that India is still in phase 2 of the COVID19 outbreak which has claimed three lives in the country so far.

#WATCH live from Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) briefs media. #Coronavirushttps://t.co/DOPPJXFhqs

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2020