THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The high rates for the RT-PCR tests being conducted at the airports are because of the expensive test cartridge that will yield the results within one hour, CM Pinarayi Vijayan told the assembly on Monday.
Replying to a submission by M Rajagopalan demanding that those who are made to take the tests at the airports have to pay heavy charges when compared to the rates prevailing outside offered by both the government as well as the private agencies, Vijayan said that the government has fixed the rate for RT-PCR tests in the airports as Rs 2,490 through an order issued on Sept 8.
However, he said that the passengers are at their liberty to choose whichever test they want depending on the Covid testing regulatory protocols of the respective countries to where they are travelling.
He said that the government has requested the ministry of civil aviation as well as the airline companies to intervene to reduce the heavy airfares.
