UP first state to conduct over 2 crore Covid tests
Of the total samples we are now ensuring at least 40% are tested through RT PCR, says additional chief secretary (medical health) Amit Mohan Prasad
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh became the first state in the country on Saturday to cross the 2-crore mark in Covid-19 sample testing.
“We have conducted 2,01,28,312 total tests, making Uttar Pradesh the first state to cross the 2-crore mark in testing Covid-19 samples. Of the total samples we are now ensuring at least 40% are tested through RT PCR,” said additional chief secretary (medical health) Amit Mohan Prasad.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh had crossed the 1.50-crore mark in Covid-19 sample testing on November 1, when on the day the total figure reached 1,50,15,118. UP had reached the count of one crore Covid-19 sample tests on September 30 (1,00,98,896). On an average, every day, over 1.50 lakh samples are being tested in the state.
The state started Covid-19 testing on March 23, and reached the 50 lakh count on August 27. Till May 22, two lakh samples had been tested in the state.
On June 16, the count reached 5 lakh samples, and the state had tested 10 lakh samples by July 6. On July 18, 15 lakh samples, on July 28, 20 lakh samples, on August 9, 30 lakh samples were tested and on August 19, the state tested 40 lakh samples.
“Increasing number of tests is essential to ensure infection spread is contained,” said Association of International Doctors secretary-general Abhishek
Shukla.
In the first five months of the pandemic - from beginning March to June-end – six lakh samples had been tested, whereas from June end to August end, the state has tested 44 lakh samples. On October 1 the state had conducted a total 1,02,63,709 tests and on October 30, the number was 1,47,17,483,
which means 44,53,774 tests were conducted in October. In November, 43,07,540 samples had been tested.
Yogi expresses satisfaction
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed satisfaction over Uttar Pradesh crossing the 2 crore milestone in Covid-19 tests conducted, a state government release read on Saturday.
The CM also directed that contact-tracing and surveillance systems be maintained, the statement added.
Yogi said this at the Covid-19 and unlock review meeting and added: “There should be complete vigilance against this infection. He also said that in view of the present situation, the number of ICU beds should be increased according to requirement and public address systems should be used to spread awareness about Covid-19.”
The statement also stated that about 14 crore people in UP have been contacted through surveillance and focus-testing has been conducted on them and that it has proven helpful in controlling the spread Covid-19.
No death, 59 fresh Covid cases in Prayagraj PRAYAGRAJ: No death due to Covid-19 was reported in Prayagraj on Saturday, keeping the death toll due to Sars-CoV-2 infection in the district at 348, said district health officials.
Meanwhile, 59 more people tested positive for the virus.However, 18 patients were also discharged from hospitals on Saturday. Besides, 37 people also completed their home isolation, said Dr Rishi Sahai, district nodal officer.