NEW DELHI: With more than nine lakh samples tested for the third consecutive day, the number of tests for detection of Covid-19 has crossed the four-crore mark in India, while the number of such tests per 10 lakh people has also increased to 29,280, the Union health ministry said on Saturday as the total number of coronavirus cases mounted to 34,63,972 in the country.
With the focussed, consistent and coordinated efforts led by the Centre and implemented by the states and Union territories, the country has set a new landmark of testing 4,04,06,609 people for Covid-19 so far, the ministry said.
The number of daily tests has also seen an upsurge. Already having achieved the testing capacity of 10 lakh per day, 9,28,761 Covid-19 tests were conducted on Friday.
"This has boosted the Tests Per Million (TPM) with a sharp increase to 29,280. As is seen in many states and Union territories that have increased the testing, the positivity rate will eventually fall with higher levels of testing. The national positivity rate has remained low at 8.57 per cent and is constantly falling," the ministry highlighted.
The number of tests for detection of Covid-19 had crossed the three-crore mark in the country on August 17.
India has come a long way from conducting the first Covid-19 test in January in a laboratory in Pune to crossing the milestone of conducting four crore such tests.
The country is following the strategic approach of "test, track and treat", where testing forms the initial and crucial pillar of Covid response and management.
It is only by aggressive testing that positive cases are identified at an early stage, their close contacts promptly tracked and isolated, and a timely and effective treatment is ensured for those in home isolation or in hRead More – Source
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