Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is setting up a mobile Covid-19 testing laboratory in Pune, which will become operational from Saturday (24 April) and augment the efforts of the government and private entities.

The mobile Covid-19 facility will have a capacity of 1,500 samples per day and will provide the result within four hours. While the service will be free for those below the poverty line, others will be charged Rs 500 per test.

Harbhajan has been urging people to stay safe all along while also re-tweeting messages from people seeking help for their near-and-dear ones.

State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said, “Indian cricketer Harbajan Singh had approached us a few days ago and offered help to contain the Covid-19 surge. The mobile lab for Covid-19 testing will start at Vadgaonsheri on Saturday.”

On April 17, Harbhajan also urged his followers to help Delhi cricketer Unmukt Chand whose mother and uncle were admitted to a hospital in the national capital for Covid-19 treatment. Chand had posted a doctor’s prescription which said his mother and uncle urgently required Remdesivir vials.