WHO suggests 140 tests per day, per million population

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its Guidance Note on Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19 has advised comprehensive surveillance of suspected cases. In this, WHO advises that a country needs 140 tests per day per million population.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

In India, 22 States and Union Territories are reported to be already conducting 140 and more tests per day per million.

The states and UTs are being regularly being advised to increase the testing capacity to match the WHO advised levels of testing. For now, the number of persons being tested for the disease in India has crossed 8,994 per million.

One of the factors strongly aiding the increasing numbers of COVID-19 tests in the country is the steadily growing number of laboratories. With 865 labs in the government sector and 358 private labs, the total number of testing labs is 1223, to date.

In addition to the RT PCR test, CBNAAT and TrueNat are also being used to augment the testing capabilities.