J&K conducts 71 lakh tests in last six months, ahead of many states

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the current year has steadily ramped up testing with every passing month, with a clear understanding that test, track and treat are the cornerstones of any strategy to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Union health and family welfare ministry in query over Covid-19 testing rate of the Country has told in Lok Sabha that the union territory has conducted maximum 14, 22, 808 in the month of September, while in last six month the J&K has conducted 71,97, 707 tests which were higher than neghbouring Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and most of the north-eastern states.

From June to November-J&K has conducted 71,97,707 tests with the monthly average of 11, 99, 618 tests. Out of the 20 districts- Srinagar has conducted maximum 10,80,590 tests with monthly average of 1,80, 098 tests followed by Jammu district which has conducted 10, 05, 237 tests with a monthly average of 1,67,540.

The rise in the number of cases in last three odd months which are mainly due to violation of COVID SoPs can also were attributed to high number of tests. As more the tests, more are the chances of detecting positive cases in area. District Budgam which has seen rise in the positive cases, too have conducted average 1,00,300 tests on an averagely monthly basis in last six months.

J&K has increased the testing with every passing month from the beginning of the 2020. Against the projected population of 1,34,08,000, the UT conducted 2,51, 949 with tests per 1000 population of 18.791 in January. 2,08,456 test with 15.547 average in February, 2,86,511 with an average of 21.369 in March, 4,02,599 with an average of 30 in April, 4,92,558 tests with an average of 36.7 in May, 6,67,005 with an average of 49.7 in June, 7,43, 606 with an average of 21.369 in July, 4,02,599 with an average of 30 in August.

Even chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta in a meeting to review the public health response to COVID on Saturday has stressed for further improving the rate of testing as per respective target.

Since then UT further ramped up testing as in September 14,22,808 tests were conducted with an average of 106.12, in October 12,56,320 tests against an average of 93.7, in November 13,16, 697 tests with an average of 98.20 while in first five days of December 2,26,451 tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, the J&K government on Sunday has retained the Covid-19 containment guidelines in action, including imposing of night curfew in view of the uneven trend observed in the daily coronavirus cases.

As mentioned last week as well , “Rigorous screening and conduct of Covid-19 RT-PCR test will be made mandatory at the Srinagar International Airport for international arrivals as per the guidelines issued from time to time,” order said.

It said that any person found Covid-19 positive will have to undergo institutional quarantine and treated as per standard protocol.

The samples of positive cases will be sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) promptly. There will be a close tracking and testing of the contacts of travellers who have tested positive, the order said. It also directed the designated surveillance officers (DSOs) to establish a close coordination with their designated and tagged INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) for expediting results of genomic analysis. Necessary public health measures should be taken in case of presence of variants of concern as reported by the INSACOG network. People from ‘At-Risk’ nations who test negative will, however, have to be in home quarantine for seven days, the order said.

The Government today informed that 126 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 15 from Jammu division and 111 from Kashmir division, have been reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 338871.Also, 04 COVID deaths have been reported from Kashmir Division. The Bulletin informs that no new case of Mucormycosis has been reported today.

On COVID vaccination, the bulletin informs that 20,499doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in the last 24 hours bringing the cumulative number of doses administered across J&K to1,72,71,653.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 338871 positive cases, 1541are Active Positive (385 in Jammu Division and 1157in Kashmir Division), 332835 have recovered and 4495 have died; 2189 in Jammu division and 2306in Kashmir division. The Bulletin further said that out of 18274913 test results available, 338871 samples have tested positive and 17936042 samples have been tested as negative till date. Besides, 54,901 COVID tests have been conducted in last 24 hours.