#COVID19: 8600 Tests per day
TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/22/2020 1:21:42 PM
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JAMMU: Almost 8600 tests are being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir on a daily basis, and the authorities plan to enhance the capacity to over 18500 tests per day in coming weeks.
This was informed by Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo in a review meeting chaired by Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh.
Dulloo said that efforts are being made to increase the testing capacity in J&K by adding to the existing infrastructure in a big way.
He said that as on May 21, around 8596 COVID tests are being conducted on a daily basis. He said that J&K is at the second place, only after Delhi, in terms of total tests being conducted per million of population.
The FC said that the existing capacity will be increased to 18500 per day in the coming days with the introduction of new machines like Automated RMA extractor. The FC also informed that the positivity rate of COVID in the UT, which was 2.9 % out of total testing on 1st May has come down to 1.4% on 21st May.
He highlighted the present testing capacity of the labs and strategies being adopted to enhance the capacity at all health institutions in the coming days. The FC said that new machines are being hired from different sources to augment the testing capacity. He said that five new Cartidge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines will be procured by 31st May enabling all the new GMCs to conduct COVID testing. He said this would increase the testing capacity to manifolds.
He said that a COBAS-6800 for SKIMS Soura has been ordered that will add additional capacity of 1500 tests per day, while the testing capacity at GMC Srinagar will be increased to 2000 tests per day in coming days.