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 6, a total of 1,01,068 samples have been tested and 4,135 individuals have been confirmed positive in India.
On April 6, 11,432 samples were tested and reported. Of these, 311 were found positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Here are the state-wise numbers as of 10 am on April 6:
— Andhra Pradesh has not provided numbers regarding samples tested. 303 have tested positive in the state, and Andhra has recorded three COVID-19 deaths. Six people have recovered.
— Kerala has sent 10,716 samples for testing till date. Till date, 327 have tested positive, two people have died due to COVID-19 in Kerala, while 59 have recovered.
—Tamil Nadu has tested 5,015 samples so far, with 621 testing positive. Samples of 339 are still being processed. The state has recorded six deaths, while 13 people have recovered.
— Telangana has provided no updates on samples tested. Telangana has 364 coronavirus cases, and has recorded 11 deaths. 34 people have recovered.
— Karnataka has tested 5,958 samples, with 163 people testing positive. The state has recorded four COVID-19 deaths, while 18 persons have been discharged.
— Maharashtra has tested 17,563 samples, with 868 testing positive so far. The state has recorded 45 deaths, while 56 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 transmission 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.