Telangana has had notoriously poor reporting on Covid-19 testing. The State started out well but has fallen into utter non-performance in the last few weeks.

As of May 14, the State saw only 22,842 tests. "Neighboring Andhra Pradesh did over 2 lakh tests. In Telangana, no testing of Asymptomatic patients, no random testing, no Covid-19 suspect dead testing until High Court ordered the government to do it," writes journalist Rishika Sadam.

Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta has described the situation as a national shame. "Once again: Telangana’s testing record and pattern are a national scandal and disgrace. Looks like Article 370 has moved from Jammu & Kashmir to Telangana. This is anarchy. Especially in a State including a powerhouse metro like Hyderabad," he writes.

On his part, Health Minister Eatala Rajendar has defended the "low testing" claiming that it is as per the ICMR guidelines. "Telangana is testing all the contacts including the primary/secondary/ tertiary contacts. That's why the yield is better. The number of tests to detect the positive cases is lower means the tests are done for the people for whom indication is there strictly as per the ICMR guidelines (sic)," he writes, replying to the journalist on Twitter.

Hyderabad is a nerve centre. If the economy has to be opened up without fear, controlling Covid-19 in the city is very crucial. Controlling requires testing, isolating, tracing.

#Telangana testing figures-22,842 tests done as of May 14, probably one of the lowest in Country. Neighboring #Andhra did over 2 lakhtests. *In Telangana-no testing of Asymptomatic patients,no random testing,no Covid suspect dead testing until HC ordered State to do it #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/jGVSnbVPo7

— Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) May 17, 2020