Kannur: Keralites who plan to travel to other states should have to pay a heavy price for conducting Covid test in Kerala. RT-PCR test costs Rs 1700 for a person at recognised private laboratories. A family of four members should shell out Rs 6800 for conducting the test if they need to travel outside the state. Other states which have made Covid test mandatory have reduced the charge. People who need to travel outside India should mandatorily have a Covid negative certificate putting Keralites in hardship.

In Maharashtra, Covid test is charged Rs 900, in Delhi Rs 1200 and in Karnataka it is Rs 600 to Rs 700. Though private labs in Tamil Nadu are charging up to Rs 3000, it has not affected the common people. Because RT-PCR test is conducted free in most of the government health centres.

In many districts, including Kannur and Kasaragod, only one private institute has been given approval by the ICMR to conduct RT-PCR test.  A few institutions from a district take samples and send to affiliated labs in Ernakulam and Kozhikode for testing. The test result too will be delayed.