No. of COVID-19 tests crosses 4-crore mark in India

New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) With more than nine lakh samples tested for third consecutive day, number of tests for detection of COVID-19 has crossed four-crore mark in India, while number of such tests per 10 lakh people has also increased to 29,280, Union health ministry said on Saturday as total number of coronavirus cases mounted to 34,63,972 in country.

With focussed, consistent and coordinated efforts led by Centre and implemented by states and Union territories, country has set a new landmark of testing 4,04,06,609 people for COVID-19 so far, ministry said.

number of daily tests has also seen an upsurge. Alrey having achieved testing capacity of 10 lakh per day, 9,28,761 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Friday.

"This has boosted Tests Per Million (TPM) with a sharp increase to 29,280. As is seen in many states and Union territories that have increased testing, positivity rate will eventually fall with higher levels of testing. national positivity rate has remained low at 8.57 per cent and is constantly falling," ministry highlighted.

number of tests for detection of COVID-19 h crossed three-crore mark in country on August 17.

India has come a long way from conducting first COVID-19 test in January in a laboratory in Pune to crossing milestone of conducting four crore such tests.

country is following strategic approach of "test, track and treat", where testing forms initial and crucial pillar of COVID response and manment.

It is only by aggressive testing that positive cases are identified at an early st, ir close contacts promptly tracked and isolated, and a timely and effective treatment is ensured for those in home isolation or in hospitals, ministry underlined.

Expanding network of diagstic laboratories and facilitating easy testing across country through several policy measures have given a substantial boost to this upsurge in national testing rates.  Currently, re are 1,576 laboratories in country -- 1,002 in government sector and 574 private ones -- where COVID-19 tests can be performed, ministry said.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 34,63,972 with a single-day spike of 76,472 cases, while death toll due to disease climbed to 62,550 with 1,021 people succumbing to it in a span of 24 hours, health ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.

At same time, number of recoveries surged to 26,48,998, pushing recovery rate to 76.47 per cent, according to data. PTI PLB RC