India, June 19 -- On the back of a slight surge in Covid-19 RTPCR-positive cases reported across the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday issued orders to all private hospitals and laboratories to strictly adhere to the central government's guidelines on Covid-19 testing.

The PMC health department issued a letter raising concerns over an alleged rise in unnecessary Covid screening carried out by private doctors and labs in the city. According to civic officials, this unjustified testing is leading to panic among the public besides adding to treatment costs.

"RTPCR tests are being conducted without doctors' prescriptions, which violates testing protocols issued by the state health department. As per current government ...