India crosses 5 lakh tests with 4% positivity rate, much lower than other affected countries
New Delhi: India’s growth in the number of COVID19 cases has been linear, not exponential. We have been able to cut transmission, minimize spread and increase doubling rate, said CK Mishra, Environment Secretary & Chairman, Empowered Group-2 on COVID19 .
He said that on April 22, India had completed 5 lakh testing and had about 20 thousand or 4% positives. If we compare it to other countries, except South Korea we have done well with our strategy.
US had completed 5 lakh tests on 26 March and had 80 thousand positive cases or 16% positivity rate. Italy had completed 5 lakh testing on 31st March and found 1 lakh positives or 20% positivity rate. Similarly, UK had completed 5 lakh tests on 20 April and had found 1.2 lakh positive cases or 24% positivity rate and Turkey had done 5 lakh tests as on 16 April and had 80 thousand positive cases or 16% positivity rate.
On March 23 India had conducted 14,915 tests and had nearly 500 or 3% positive cases. After one month, India conducted 5 lakh tests and had 20 thousand or 4% positivity rate.
Positivity rate is the number of positive cases per each 100 tests.
As compared to India, US has completed 5 lakh tests on 26 March and had 80 thousand positive cases or 16% positivity rate. Italy had completed 5 lakh testing by 31st March and found 1 lakh positives or 20% positivity rate. Similarly, UK had completed 5 lakh tests on 20 April and had found 1.2 lakh positive cases or 24% positivity rate and Turkey had done 5 lakh tests on 16 April and had 80 thousand positive cases or 16% positivity rate.
“In last 30 days of lockdown, we have been able to cut transmission, minimize spread, consistently ramp up our testing & utilize this time to prepare ourselves for future” he said.
