UP first state to conduct 75 lakh Covid tests

LUCKNOW: UP achieved yet another benchmark of completing 75 lakh Covid-19 tests, the highest in the country, since the outbreak of the pandemic in March earlier this year. The record was set with the state government achieving the target of conducting approximately 1.5 lakh tests per day, which is now targeted to be increased to 2 lakh per day.
Additional chief secretary (home), Awanish Awasthi said that the state government would achieve the target of conducting 1 crore tests by the month-end. “UP is the most populous state and therefore the number of tests was expected to be much more than in other states,” he said.

As against UP’s 75 lakh, Maharashhtra has conducted 51.6 lakh tests and Andhra Pradesh 45.3 lakh tests so far. Likewise, Tamil Nadu has conducted 58 lakh test, Karnataka 37 lakh, Delhi 20 lakh, West Bengal 24 lakh and Bihar 47.7 lakh tests.
Awasthi said that the state government sought to put in place a robust medical infrastructure in its battle against Corona. He said that the death rate because of the Corona in the state was lesser than other states and below than the national average. He said that the total confirmed cases till date was 3.05 lakh against a population of 22.5 crores.
Awasthi said that the Corona cases could be arrested by following various safety protocols and launching a campaign for wearing masks and maintaining the requisite distance to avoid contracting the virus.
The recovery rate in UP was 76% which is higher than many other states. “The state government was trying to better the recovery rate in the days to come,” he said. The CM, he said, reiterated on laying emphasis on cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur which have a higher case burden.
Awasthi said that the CM has pressed for making people aware about the protocols by making public announcements through the use of loudspeakers. According to the plan, the state government would put in place a public address system that would play songs appealing people to follow protocols and precautions to avoid contracting Corona. The CM also underlined the need of distributing masks among the people.
The ACS home said that CM has also pitched for completing the work of under construction testing laboratories in the state. Also, the usage of newly constituted Covid hospitals -- like the newly constructed 320-bed Covid hospital in Lucknow– be expedited. The CM also laid thrust on training of paramedics in more numbers to strengthen the man power dealing with the pandemic.
Better PPE kits
The state government also plans to expedite the purchase of better quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, masks, gloves and sanitizers through the GEM portal at a very competitive price. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has specially given directions to arrest the chances of black marketing of oxygen and setting up new oxygen plants in the state. Various companies have already come forward with proposals to install oxygen plants in cities like Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Meerut.
Post-Covid care
The Centre has issued the guidelines pertaining to post-Covid care which need to be followed by patients who have recovered from Corona. Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said the guidelines focus on various protocols including repeated washing of hands, regular use of face masks and maintaining social distance. The recovered patients also need to practise yoga, exercise and begin daily work.