Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada District increases the number of Covid-19 tests around 172% between March and August this year compared to the first wave.
The district has tested 5.68 lakh in the first wave between March.
2020 to February, 2021, and increased the number of tests sharply up to 9.81 lakh between March and August this year.
In August only, this district made a record number 2.8 lakh RT-PCR.
Increase numbers through ring supervision which includes more main contacts to help the district administration to present a test level of test below 2%, according to officials from the Ministry of Health.
The district has so far carried 15,72,097 tests on Thursday.
While 62,587 tests were carried out in March this year, the number of tests increased to more than 1 lakh in April.
In August, this district did 2.86,152 tests.
As on Thursday, the district has reported 1,10,481 positive cases of SARS-COV-2 infection.
While 34,441 cases (31%) were reported in the first wave between March, 2020 and February 2021, the remaining cases (69%) were reported after March this year.
The district health and family welfare officer Dr.
Kishore Kumar M told TI that the department would not reduce the number of tests in the near future.
“Even though there is a decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases in the district, we cannot reduce the number of sudden tests.
The district increases the number of tests far in the second wave to prevent the spread of the virus in the third wave.
At present we have collected nearly 11,000 swabs per day.
More samples were collected at Mangaluru Taluk, especially from the corporate limits of Mangaluru City.
More cases are reported in educational institutions, monasteries and other housing facilities in the city, “Dr.
Kishore said.
The district has eight laboratories that conduct RT-PCR tests, including two government facilities at Wenlock Regency Hospital at Mangaloru Hospital and Taluk Puture.
Nearly 80% of RT-PCR tests were carried out in government laboratories at Wenlock Hospital and in Putture, he added.
First phenomenal growth wave – from March 2020 – February 2021 5.68,775 from March 2021 to August 2021 9.81.609 on August 2021 2,86,152 Total on September 2, 15,72,097 Source: DK Health Dept.