Health ministry asks states to ramp up testing even as Covid-19 cases drop

Health secy says with several countries seeing surges in cases, a few facing even fourth and fifth wave despite high vaccination level, there is a need for continued vigil

The health ministry has written to thirteen states where the weekly rate of Covid testing has dropped even though the total daily cases in the country to around 10,000.

“In the absence of sustained levels of sufficient testing, it is very difficult to determine the true level of infection spread in a geography,” Rajesh Bhushan, health secretary said.

He said that with several countries seeing surges in Covid cases in recent times and a few developed countries facing even fourth and fifth wave despite high levels of Covid vaccination, there was a need for continued vigil given the unpredictable and contagious nature