India conducts record 8.5 lakh COVID tests in one day

at 4:27 pm
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New Delhi (NVI): India has conducted a record high of over 8 lakh COVID-19 tests in a single day, as a total of 8,48,728 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative tests to 2,76,94,416, the Union Health Ministry said.

The highest single-day COVID-19 test at 8,48,728 is the result of ramping up its testing facilities on a sustained basis, with the aim of touching 10 lakh tests per day, the Health Ministry said.

“WHO in its guidance note on ‘Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of Covid-19’ has advised comprehensive surveillance for suspected cases,” the Ministry said in an official statement.

However, WHO has also advised that a country needs 140 tests per day per million population, it added.

The ministry stated that the national average is 603 tests per day million population, with focussed efforts of the Centre and effective implementation by the states and union territories, while 34 of them have exceeded this figure.

In addition to this, states/UTs are being advised to scale up the testing on a commensurate level with the prevailing positivity.

Meanwhile, a key component for the successful implementation of the “Test, Track and Treat” strategy has been the continuously expanding network of diagnostic labs across the country. The network as of today consists of 1,451 labs with 958 in the government sector and 493 private labs.

Furthermore, the successful implementation of TESTING aggressively, TRACKING comprehensively and TREATING efficiently has ensured a rising recovery rate, which stands at 71.17 per cent today, taking the total recovered COVID-19 patients to more than 17.5 lakh, the ministry said.

“The recoveries exceed the active cases (6,61,595) by nearly 11 lakh (1,089,960),” it said.

However, effective clinical management through a standard of care treatment protocol has further ensured progressive and sustained decline in the mortality among COVID-19 patients.

As a result, the Case Fatality Rate (CRF) is pegged at 1.95 per cent today, maintaining its path of steady decline.

-RJV