Uttar Pradesh becomes first state to conduct 5 crore Covid-19 tests

LUCKNOW: With over 3.3 lakh Covid tests undertaken in last 24 hours, UP became the first state to conduct over 5 crore tests to screen around 25% of the state's population for coronavirus.
As per state health department data, 3.33 lakh Covid-19 tests were conducted in past 24 hours, taking the total tests undertaken in the state to 5.07 crore. This is over 14% of total tests done in the country since the onset of pandemic. In terms of technique, two crore tests which is 40% of total tests done — were conducted through RT-PCR method.
Principal secretary medical education, Alok Kumar II said: “UP has achieved another milestone and come a long way in Covid-19 testing. Earlier, samples would be sent to NIV, Pune, but infrastructure was quickly ramped up to set up testing centres here.”
UP has dramatically raised its capacity to conduct RT-PCR tests.
From a capacity to undertake 8,000 RT-PCR tests per day, we are now in a position to do 2 lakh tests every single day. This speaks for a 25-fold rise in the state’s capacity to undertake RTPCR tests,” he said.
State government officers stated over 65% tests conducted during the second wave were done in rural areas with help of rapid response teams. In fact, more than 61 lakh tests were done in April of which 63% were in rural areas. Likewise, in May, 70% of 85 lakh tests were conducted in villages.
Additional chief secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal, said, despite being the most populous state, Uttar Pradesh has outpaced other states, including Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. “Compared to 3.52 crore tests in worst-hit Maharashtra, UP conducted 30% more tests,” he said.
Stating that UP is often compared to several nations like Brazil in population figures, Sehgal said: “Despite having a lower pandemic burden than Brazil, UP has conducted more tests than the South American nation.”
Officials also said tailormade containment plans had been made for urban and rural areas and patients were tracked through surveillance committees.