Even as the Union Health Ministry has been stressing on aggressive testing is necessary to bring down the Covid-19 positivity rate so as to bring down positivity rate below 5 per cent, at least ten States are not meeting the WHO testing criteria i.e. more than 140 tests/day/million. Goa is testing highest at 1,333 tests per day per million.
Incidentally, these are some of the populous States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha where number of cases are on increase in each passing days.
Talking to reporters here at a Press briefing here on Tuesday, Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Union Health Ministry said aggressive testing is necessary to bring down the Covid-19 positivity rate; the aim is to maintain this level of testing so as to bring down positivity rate below 5 per cent.
India currently has 8.07 per cent positivity rate with 30 State/UTs reporting lower positivity rate than India average.
The “Test, Track, Treat” strategy encapsulates the holistic framework for management of Covid-19. Led by the Centre, it has been implemented through various measures by the State/UT Governments. While States/UTs have substantially expanded their testing network, they have also undertaken measures to facilitate widespread testing by people at large. As a result the national average of tests/day/million has substantially jumped to 180, as on date, said Bhushan.
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 Covid-19 cases. WHO has advised that a country needs 140 tests/day/ million population.
The Centre and ICMR have continually advised the State/UT Governments to improve the number of tests conducted. Through the coordinated efforts, India’s testing per million (TPM) has increased to 10,421. This has helped in early detection and timely and effective clinical management of Covid-19 cases.
In tandem with increased testing, the Confirmation Rate or Positivity Rate for India is continuously reducing and currently stands at 8.07%.
There are 30 State/UTs in India which have lower Positivity Rate than the India average. This indicates that Centre-led initiative of increased testing is working in yielding positive results.
Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog talked about the progress of the vaccines in the country: “India’s two Covid-19 vaccines are in phase 1 and 2 of trials. Discussions have already begun how will the vaccines be made available to all those who need it.”
“The Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure people of India and international community have access to an Indian vaccine as early as possible. Every possible facilitation will be ensured making sure trials conducted scientifically and ethically, and we arrive at an affordable option.”
Our death rate is 2.43 per cent which is very less in comparison to other countries. The actual Covid-19 caseload of the country is 4,02,529. We should care more about the active cases instead of the outstanding figures, Bhushan added.