Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In a testament to the consistent and coordinated efforts of the Centre and the State/UT governments, India continued its track record of testing more than 6 lakh COVID-19 samples each day for the fourth successive day.
Expanded diagnostic lab network and facilitation for easy testing across the country have given a boost and with 6,39,042 tests conducted in last 24 hours, India has done 2,27,88,393 tests as on August 7, 2020. The Tests Per Million (TPM) has seen a sharp increase to 16,513.
The 7 day moving average in daily tests conducted has significantly improved from around 2.69 lakh on July 14, 2020, to around 5.66 lakh on August 6, 2020, according to a PIB release.
While the cumulative testing rose from 1.2 crore on July 14, 2020, to 2.2 crore on August 6, 2020, the positivity rate has seen a rise from 7.5% to 8.87% in the same period. Although higher number of tests will push the positivity rate initially, but as the Delhi experience has amply shown, it will eventually lower when combined with other measures such as prompt isolation, tracking and timely clinical management.
The graded and evolving response has resulted in a testing strategy that steadily widened the testing net in the country. To keep up with this strategy, the testing lab network in the country is continuously strengthened which as on today consists of 1,383 labs in the country; 931 labs in the government sector and 452 private labs.