Odisha plans one lakh tests per day as Covid-19 cases cross 50k mark

As Covid-19 tally in Odisha crossed the 50,000-mark and loss of life toll mounted to 305, chief minister Naveen Patnaik stated on Wednesday that the state authorities would enhance testing within the coming weeks.

Reviewing the pandemic scenario within the state on a day when the Covid-19 tally rose to 50,672 with the best single-day surge of 1,876 instances, Patnaik requested the district collectors to extend testing at sub-divisional hospitals and neighborhood well being centres. Similarly, Block Development Officers and officers of panchayati raj establishments have been requested to inspire individuals to voluntarily come ahead for testing.

Director of Institute of Life Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Dr Ajay Parida stated the state would now begin testing about one lakh samples a day. In the final 24 hours, Odisha examined 32,053 samples of which 23,000 samples had been examined via speedy antigen technique and eight,000 via RT-PCR technique. Currently, the state has the capability to conduct 8,000-10,000 RT-PCR checks per day.

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“Now more emphasis is being laid on rapid antigen tests because you can know the result at the point of care whether one is positive or negative within 4-5 hours. Antigen kits are now available with district hospitals and municipalities. The advantage with rapid antigen kits is that a large number of people can be screened and positive cases can be identified and segregated,” he stated.

The chief minister stated Odisha is without doubt one of the few states within the nation which is offering common look after Covid-19 sufferers fully freed from value. “From testing to treatment to food, transport, accommodation, everything is provided free of cost, and the objective is that because of financial problems nobody should suffer without getting treatment in Odisha,” Patnaik stated.

The chief minister stated these Covid positive sufferers who shall be staying in house isolation, could be supplied a package containing dos and don’ts, few primary medicines and a listing of phone numbers of docs, counsellors/ tele-medicine professionals and authorities officers.