COVID-19: India's testing data on par with global trend on crossing 10,000-case mark

While India has been criticised of limited testing range by many countries and several politicians, testing data released by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW), on Thursday, shows India following global standards corresponding to number of cases. data released by MOHFW shows that India has tested 2,17,554 samples currently as its case tally crosses 10,000-mark. In comparison US, UK had tested just above 1,00,000 samples, while Canada had tested close to 3,00,000 samples. All above-mentioned countries are currently in 'Community transmission' phase, while India has been put under 'Cluster of cases' with 12,380 cases and 414 deaths.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: China sends 6.5 lakh testing kits, total tally reaches 12380

India's testing data

ICMR files affidavit in SC, challenges order on 'free COVID-19 testing' by private labs

ICMR expands testing guidelines

On April 9,   Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revised its testing strategy. new strategy which has been released by ICMR also includes testing in 'hotspots/cluster' for all symptomatic cases - within 7 days (rRT- PCR method) and after 7 days (antibody test).   ICMR previously only allowed testing of all people with symptoms with travel history, contact history, SARI patients and asymptomatic people with high-risk contacts. This comes after ICMR has also allowed use of rapid antibody testing - 6.5 test kits are scheduled to arrive on Friday.

ICMR revises COVID-19 testing strategy to include 'testing clusters using anti-body tests'

ICMR testing guidelines and capacity

Currently, testing for Coronavirus is done in 219 labs throughout nation - 151 Govt & 68 Pvt. On March 21, Centre tified guidelines laid down by ICMR for COVID-19 testing in private laboratories in country. It has been stressed that private labs can charge only Rs.1,500 for screening of suspect cases and Rs.3000 for confirmation test. While  ICMR has encourd private labs to go for free or subsidized testing, government labs are testing for free. Moreover, Supreme Court instructed Pvt labs to conduct free COVID-19 testing for patients covered by AYUSHMAN Bharat scheme. 

China sends 6.5 lakh Covid test kits to India; ICMR's test-tally currently at 2.74 lakh