Goa excels in COVID testing

New Delhi: Goa, Delhi, Tripura and Tamil Nadu are among 22 states and Union  territories in India that have been conducting over 500 COVID-19 tests per day per million  population, far ahead of the World Health Organisation’s guidelines. The WHO advises 140 tests per day per million population. 

As per Union ministry of health and family welfare data, 22 states and UTs, including Delhi, are already conducting 140 and above tests per day per million population. 

India’s per day per million coronavirus test rate is 201, the data said. 

Among the 22 states and UTs, Goa is on top by performing 1,058 COVID-19 tests followed by  Delhi (978) – which is among the worst-hit regions across India with 1,15,346 confirmed cases  that include 3,446 deaths. 

Tripura by performing 642 tests per day per million is on the third rank among those states that have been conducting over 500 tests daily. The northeastern state, which announced seven-day lockdown from July 17 in areas bordering Bangladesh after a recent spike in coronavirus cases, is followed by Tamil Nadu (563), Jammu & Kashmir (540), and Puducherry (511). The WHO in its guidance note on ‘public health criteria to adjust public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19’ has advised comprehensive surveillance for suspected cases.

While explaining the concept of comprehensive surveillance and testing of suspect cases, the WHO advises that a country needs 140 tests per day per million population.