UP ramps up testing benchmark to 1 lakh a day

LUCKNOW: The state government has decided to ramp up the Covid testing benchmark to one lakh per day after successfully conducting over 50,000 tests daily. Though the goal has to be achieved in a phased manner, the government will rely on rapid antigen tests kits that reveal the covid-19 status of a person in 30 minutes.
Additional chief secretary information and home Awanish Awasthi said: “Testing has been our strength in the battle against the pandemic. On chief minister’s instructions, the government has decided to undertake one lakh tests per day.”
“The state has procured these kits, which will be extensively used in districts to test suspected cases and trace contacts. In fact, the government fixed a target of 500 rapid tests in each district per day. And in districts with a population of more than 25 lakh, 1,000 rapid tests are to be done daily,” he said.Health officials informed the state took stock of 8-10 lakh rapid kits. “The kits will be used in the walk in covid-19 testing centres coming up in the districts,” said an officer. On Wednesday, ACS health and family welfare Amit Mohan Prasad said all districts will have at least 10-20 walk-in test centres to encourage people to test themselves for the virus.
On the benchmark of conducting 54,000-plus tests a day, secretary to chief minister, Alok Kumar said: “Our labs conducted 54,897 tests in 24 hours, which is a single-day record for any state. Of these, 31,837 were done through the RT PCR method while 20,366 tests were conducted through Rapid Antigen Kits. The remaining was done through TruNat machines. Antigen tests have helped in overcoming delays in treatment for suspected patients.” Sources also said, the government was evaluating use of antibodies test kits being used by private labs in states like Delhi to boost testing.