Government to reduce Covid testing in rural dists

BHUBANESWAR: The total Covid tests in the state is inching towards the 50 lakh-mark, covering 12.34 per cent of Odisha’s population. The government, however, said it aimed to intensify testing in densely populated urban areas.
The government, which has maintained that population density would be the basis on which it ramps up testing in certain places, has decided to bring more people in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri under Covid tests. Tests in these three cities, along with some more urban areas of the state, will be increased in winter.
The state has tested 49,39,390 samples in the eight months since the pandemic broke out. This is expected to cross the 50 lakh-mark in the next two days. Daily testing figures are close to 50,000 now. “We will increase testing in densely populated areas. It goes without saying that this means urban centres,” additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Mohapatra said.
At present, the state’s positivity rate is 6.11 per cent. The state is testing 1,02,962 samples per million on an average, which is higher than the country’s average of 84,961.
Government sources said increased testing in urban areas was aimed to check the spread of the virus in winter. Some districts are reporting very few cases even if 1,000 samples are tested daily. These districts, except the district headquarters towns, are primarily rural. Not all district headquarters towns are densely populated either.
In view of rural areas reporting fewer cases, the government doesn’t want to waste test kits, and is considering shifting its focus to urban centres. Testing in some districts reporting few cases will be reduced. This includes Boudh, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Subarnapur.
Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), said increasing testing in urban areas would help in early detection of cases. “It will reduce case fatality as test-on-demand will increase. People with mild symptoms can seek tests and get medical attention early,” he said.
Prem Chandra Chaudhury, commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, “We are now testing 3,000 samples daily. If the government gives us more kits, we can increase testing.”
The capital saw 57 cases on Sunday.
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