Record 900k tests done on Wednesday

NEWDELHI:ONLY 0.28% of Covid-19 patients are on ventilator, 1.92%, undergoing treatment in intensive care units (ICUS) and 2.62%, on oxygen therapy, the latest data from the health ministry shows -indicating that most of the infections are either asymptomatic or mild, and that , in keeping with the trend evident around the world, doctors here are being able to cure most cases that require hospitalisation.

The active cases as on Wednesday were 686,395, according to the ministry.

India on Wednesday tested a record 900,000-plus samples for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), with the total number of people who have been tested crossing 30.25 million.

Pune’s National Institute of Virology, under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), conducted the first Covid-19 test on January 23, while the first case of the viral outbreak in the country was detected on January 30.

“India scales a new peak in daily testing. More than 9 lakh (9,18,470) Covid-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate has come down to below 8% (in the past 2 weeks). The daily testing capacity is likely to reach 10 lakhs (1 million) soon . The tests per million has also seen a sharp rise,” the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOH&FW) said in a statement.

“Expanded diagnostic lab network across the country and effective measures to facilitate easy testing have given a substantial boost to the present numbers. As a result of these focused actions, the tests per million (TPM) have seen a sharp increase to 23, 668. The TPM continues to maintain the constant upward trend,” the ministry added.