India has ramped up testing since the 21-day lockdown was announced on March 24, even as more cases have been reported in the country.
According to ICMR’s 9 pm bulletin on April 8, a total of 1,27,919 samples have been tested and 5,114 individuals have been confirmed positive in India.
On April 8, 13,143 samples were tested and reported. Of these, 320 were found positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Here are the state-wise numbers as of 10 am on April 9:
— Andhra Pradesh has tested 5960 samples.The state 348 positive cases, 4 COVID-19 deaths and 9 persons who have recovered.
— Kerala has tested 11,986 samples so far, with 345 people testing positive. The state has recorded 2 COVID-19 deaths, while 83 persons have recovered.
—Tamil Nadu has tested 6,095 samples so far, with 738 people testing positive. The state has recorded 8 COVID-19 deaths, while 21 persons have recovered.
— Telangana has not provided numbers regarding samples tested. The state has 453 positive cases, 11 COVID-19 deaths and 45 persons who have recovered.
— Karnataka has tested 6,967 samples, with 181 people testing positive. The state has recorded 5 COVID-19 deaths, while 28 persons have recovered.
— Maharashtra has tested 27,090 samples, with 1135 testing positive. The state has recorded 72 COVID-19 deaths, while 117 people have recovered.
While public health experts have called for wider testing to check for community transmission of COVID-19, the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) guidelines limit testing to only certain categories. These are those who have international travel history and are symptomatic; those who have contact history with a confirmed COVID-19 case and have symptoms of the virus; healthcare workers who are symptomatic; patients hospitalised with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI); and a direct or high-risk contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case who can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Presently, only the RT-PCR or the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, as of April 2, ICMR has allowed places that are hotspots (high number of cases) to test residents using the rapid antibody kits, which can deliver results within 30-45 minutes as opposed to 24 hours that an RT-PCR test. However, a positive result by the rapid antibody test will have to be further tested by the RT-PCR test to confirm for the novel coronavirus. ICMR advises those with a negative result by the rapid antibody test to be home quarantined.
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