India crosses 10 crore-mark in conducting coronavirus tests: ICMR
New Delhi, Oct 23: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that India has crossed the 10 crore-mark in conducting tests for the detection of COVID-19 as on Thursday with average testing of more than 10 lakh samples per day in the last 17 days. Till now, 74,000 tests per million population have been conducted.
According
to
reports,
India
has
conducted
last
5
crore
sample
testing
in
only
45
days,
Lokesh
Sharma,
scientist
and
media
coordinator
at
ICMR
said.
As
on
September
8,
India
had
tested
5
crore
COVID-19
samples,
and
in
less
than
50
days
on
October
22,
it
has
reached
the
10
crore-mark,
Sharma
said.
"This
has
been
enabled
by
rapidly
increasing
testing
infrastructure
and
capacity
across
the
country.
The
ICMR
has
been
enhancing
COVID-19
testing
capability
across
the
country
by
expanding
and
diversifying
testing
capacity
by
leveraging
technology
and
facilitating
innovation
in
affordable
diagnostic
kits,"
the
ICMR
said
in
a
statement.
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Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR said, "We have effectively responded to the evolving epidemic through focused and collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and UT governments."
"Exponential increase in testing has led to early identification, prompt isolation and effective treatment of COVID-19 cases along with effective contact tracing. These have eventually resulted in a sustained low fatality rate," he said. "This testing milestone is testimony to the fact that India has been successful in implementing the strategy of 5T approach 'Test, Track, Trace, Treat and use of Technology efficiently, which will enable us to contain the spread of the pandemic," he added.
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Ramping up of testing facility across India was at the core of increased testing per day, he said. Through our ardent efforts, it was ensured that a specific testing platform is made available addressing general testing (RT-PCR), High-throughput testing (COBAS), testing at remotest places and PHCs (TrueNAT, CBNAAT), in containment areas (rapid antigen testing) and for a large number and migrant population testing (pooled sample testing), Bhargava said.