India's Covid-19 count crosses 100,000, sample testing at a new high

Country currently has 58,802 active cases, of whom 2.9% are in ICU; So far, 39,174 patients have been cured

Lockdown4.0, coronavirus testing, Covid-19 testing, medics — Medics collect a swab sample of an air passenger from Chicago for COVID-19 test who landed in Hyderabad and arrived at his native city by bus, during the ongoing Covid-19 nationwide lockdown, in Vijayawada. Photo: PTI

2 min read Last Updated : May 20 2020 | 3:14 AM IST

India crossed the 100,000-mark for novel coronavirus-positive cases as of Tuesday morning, revealed a health ministry data, while also testing a record number of 108,233 samples in a single day.

India currently has 58,802 active cases, of which 2.9 per cent are in intensive care unit.

So far, a total of 39,174 patients have been cured of Covid-19.

In the last one day, 4,970 new cases and 134 deaths were added to India’s tally, taking the number of confirmed cases to 101,139 and recording 3,163 fatalities.

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The health ministry in a statement said the mortality rate in India per 100,000 is 0.2, against the global 4.1.

Maharashtra has crossed the 35,000-mark in terms of total number of cases and 1,249 deaths. It is followed by Tamil Nadu, which has jumped two places with the second-highest number of infected patients at 11,760. Gujarat with 11,745 confirmed cases has the third-highest count in the country, followed by Delhi which has over 10,000 cases.

So far, a total of 2,425,742 samples have been tested.

“From one laboratory conducting Covid-19 test in January, India has very rapidly increased its testing capacity by adding over 385 government laboratories and 158 private laboratories for testing in the country,” stated a press statement.

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The government has created 15 depots by roping in India Post and private agencies to maintain a steady supply of testing material to the labs.

“Many Indian companies have been supported to undertake production of testing material, which was earlier sourced primarily from abroad,” the statement added.

The health ministry has also issued guidelines for dental treatment of patients, given such medical procedures require contact with a patient’s oral cavity, saliva, blood, and respiratory tract secretions. These include ventilation and air quality management,
dedicated area for sterilisation and wearing personal protective equipment, and protocols for discharging a patient. Dental clinics are to remain closed in containment zones and open only for emergency treatment in red zones.