Odisha Targets 15,000 COVID-19 Tests Per Day From August

Bhubaneswar: With COVID-19 cases in Odisha going through the roofs, the State government is mulling to increase the number of tests to 15,000 per day from August, said the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar director Ajay Parida on Monday.

After Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) decided to conduct more COVID-19 tests, the State government is considering to deploy mobile coronavirus testing vans to increase the testing, Parida said.

“According to a statement issued by ICMR DG, India is conducting four to five lakh tests daily. They are targeting to make it 10 lakh per day. If number of tests increase at national level, it will also reflect on State’s tally.”

According to a sero-surveillance report, 15,000 tests will be conducted everyday staring from August, Parida said.

Around 65 per cent of Odisha’s total COVID-19 cases have been reported from Ganjam, Khurda and Cuttak. If the spread can be curbed in the three districts, then the COVID-19 infection can go down in the state, Parida added.

Ganjam is using mobile coronavirus testing vans to conduct antigen tests. The government soon will take a decision on the deployment of such vans in other parts of the States to increase the testing, the ILS director added.

Asked about the fatalities, Parida said, “Coronavirus is not the only reason for the deaths of patients in the State. Infected persons with other serious ailments died while undergoing treatment.”

(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)

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