India to breach 2 million COVID-19 tests on Thursday: Union Health Minister

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has anunced that country is set to reach mark of conducting 2 million COVID-19 tests per day on Thursday. Health Ministry had set May 31 as target date to breach 1 lakh tests per day mark but is set to reach target way before due date. As of Thursday, number of Coronavirus cases in India has increased to 78,003, with death toll rising to 2,549. In its daily update, central government's data also informed that 26,235 patients had recovered from virus.

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Speaking at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Harsh Vardhan informed that almost 90,000 tests were conducted on Wednesday and almost 2 million tests are expected to be conducted on Thursday. Union Health Minister had visited NCDC to inaugurate COVID-19 realtime automated testing machine. 

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Speaking at inauguration, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that across country ICMR and NCDC have developed over 500 labs for COVID-19 testing. He informed that Cobas 6800 machine inaugurated can conduct almost 800 tests in a day and is fully automated. "I am dedicating this machine to nation and many such have been ordered and shall be deployed across country," he added. 

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'Blessing in disguise'

vel Coronavirus pandemic will be remembered as a blessing in disguise for world as hygiene rms to tackle will become new rmal for society, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Monday. He was speaking as  chief guest at a digital conference on science and techlogy with industry body members organized by Department of Science and Techlogy on occasion of 22nd National Techlogy Day.

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Minister held that rms like wearing masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette that are being told to practice to combat COVID-19 pandemic will stay around after crisis recedes.

(with inputs from ANI)