COVID-19 report mismatch: Contradicting swab reports by BMC & Pvt Labs raise concerns

Bhubaneswar: At a time when COVID-19 cases are rising at an alarming rate in Odisha, contradicting swab test results by government and private labs have now created a lot of confusion apart from causing mental trauma to the families of the patients.
Massive irregularities in Covid-19 testing has been alleged after a woman from Bhubaneswar was tested positive as per government report, but her swab test reports came negative following tests at a private lab in the Capital city.
As per reports, swab of the woman from Ganapati slum in Bhubaneswar was collected for tests on July 16. Later, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on July 22 informed the family that the woman was COVID-19 positive, alleged the complainant.
Not satisfied with the government report, the family members conducted a re-test at a private lab in the city. Surprisingly, the woman’s test report came negative for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, tried to contact Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Choudhury, he did not answer the call to verify the facts. Such lapses are occurring by BMC officials and creating panic among citizens.
It is not for the first time that irregularities in COVID-19 testing reports have come to fore in Bhubaneswar. Earlier on July 21, some residents in Khandagiri area had alleged that test results declared ‘positive’ by Odisha government found negative following re-tests at a private lab.
As per reports, 42-year-old Chinmay Chand had undergone COVID test at municipality hospital on July 9 and his report came positive on July 14. As Chinmay had not ventured out of his home much, he again went for a re-test at a private hospital and his COVID test report came negative.