Record 8.3 lakh tests done, total tests reach 2.68 crore: Health ministry
New Delhi: A record high of over 8 lakh tests have been done for detection of COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, taking the cumulative testing figure in India to 2,68,45,688 crore, the Union Health ministry said on Thursday.
The Tests Per Million saw a sharp increase to stand at 19453.
A record of 8,30,391 samples were tested on Wednesday in the country.
"In pursuance of the 'test, track and treat' strategy, India is geared up to reach the testing capacity of 10 lakh tests per day," the ministry said.
The strong resolve and determination of the Union and state governments and union territory administrations to follow aggressive testing as the first important step in the early detection and isolation of COVID-19 positive cases have resulted in India rapidly increasing the number of tests done per day, it said.
The week-wise average daily tests conducted saw a sharp increase from around 2.3 lakh in the first week of July 2020 to more than 6.3 lakh in the current week, the ministry said.
"With a record high more than 8 lakh tests done in 24 hours on Wednesday, the cumulative testing as on date has jumped to 2,68,45,688 crore. The Tests Per Million has seen a sharp increase to 19453.
"A strong determinant of this milestone has been the sustained expansion of testing labs across the country," it said.
From merely one lab in January 2020, the country currently has 1433 labs (947 in the government sector and 486 private ones). This is a testimony to the coordinated efforts of the central and state governments and union territory administrations, the ministry underlined.
With a record single-day increase of 66,999 cases, India's COVID-19 tally rose to 23,96,637 on Thursday, while the death toll climbed to 47,033 with 942 people succumbing to the disease in a 24-hour span, the health ministry data showed.
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Two killed as college tour bus crashes into parked tanker, lorry near Maravanthe
Kundapur: Two persons died and several students were injured after a college tour bus rammed into a tanker and a goods lorry parked by the roadside near Maravanthe Beach in Trasi on Wednesday afternoon.
The bus was carrying final-year B.Com students of Rambhapuri College from Shivamogga district. According to sources, the group had left for the tour two days ago.
There were around 50 persons in the bus, including 24 male students and 23 female students.
The students had visited Murdeshwar and were travelling towards Udupi on Wednesday when the accident occurred.
Police said the bus driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, following which the bus first hit a parked gas tanker and then crashed into a goods lorry stationed ahead.
The front portion of the bus was badly mangled in the impact. Preliminary information said the bus cleaner and a cooking assistant travelling with the group died in the accident. Several injured students were shifted to different hospitals in Kundapur for treatment.
