Mumbai: Covid-19 testing dips in state, nine districts under scanner

Mumbai: Daily testing for coronavirus in the state has been on a slide, which experts called worrisome since several districts continue to report a high positivity rate. The average daily count of tests has dropped below 58,000 in the first week of February after staying in the range of 63,000-plus towards the end of January. State health officials have identified nine districts -- Nandurbar, Nanded, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola, Bhandara and Ratnagiri -- conducting less than 140 tests per million, a limit prescribed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Central team members visiting Maharashtra, after assessing the data, directed state health officials to increase testing and contact-tracing in these districts. State health minister Rajesh Tope said the state would focus on increasing overall testing with special focus on these districts, as recommended by the central team. “We are seeking advice and following the guidelines given by them. We have enough laboratories in the state and we shall focus on increasing tests,” he said.

The Centre on Thursday had pointed out that the country's weekly positivity rate was 1.8%, but eight states were reporting more than the national average. Maharashtra, which was one of the eight states, had a weekly positivity of 4.7%. Kerala had the highest at 11%, followed by Chhattisgarh at 6%. Within Maharashtra, several districts continue to report positivity in the range of 10% to 14%.

State officials have often defended the low testing numbers saying that new detections were low which in turn also meant fewer contacts being traced. However, many other states that are recording fewer cases have managed to hold on to the testing momentum. Delhi is testing over 60,000. UP and Karnataka are testing 1.1 lakh and 74,000, respectively, every day. Kerala that is contributing to the greatest number of positive cases daily ramped up testing by 80,000 on Thursday and 91,000 on Friday. It has set a daily target of 1 lakh.

Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of the state Covid-19 task force, said that some degree of complacency has set in. He said the state continues to see an average of 2,800-3,000 positive cases. “Ideally, 18-20 contacts should be traced and tested. It seems we may be testing around 10-12,” he said, adding that there was room for improvement.