With discrepancies in reporting of sample testing data found from certain labs, the Union health ministry on Wednesday launched a dedicated real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) mobile based application, for labs to fill the data at the point of sample collection.
“It is an app for collection centres to fill data at the point of sample collection, to minimize error in reporting real time data to the government authorities. It was seen that the data was being duplicated as it was sent separately to various authorities involved such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), state government etc. Now just one time entry will help reach the information everywhere, which will also save time and reduce other errors such as addresses, names etc,” a health ministry spokesperson said.
This application is linked to the main data base operated by the health ministry that will automatically keep updating it.
Director General of ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava, who is responsible for overseeing Covid-19 testing, said, “The app has been made functional and needs to be put to use immediately.”
So far, a total of 7,695 people have been cured, which takes India’s current total recovery rate to 24.5%. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 31,787.
{{/usCountry}}So far, a total of 7,695 people have been cured, which takes India’s current total recovery rate to 24.5%. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 31,787.
{{/usCountry}}In the past three days, the doubling rate is 11.3 days in the country. “…although global mortality rate is around 7%, India is having a mortality rate of around 3%, and around 86% of fatality of people with co-morbidity. Only 0.33% patients are on ventilators, 1.5% patients are on oxygen support and 2.34% patients are in ICU, which reflects the quality of care being provided across the country. In case of any further eventuality, the country is well equipped with isolation beds, ventilators, PPE, masks etc.,” said Union health minister Harsh Vardhan.
A present, 288 government laboratories are working along with 97 private lab chains, with around 16,000 sample collection centres, and testing around 60,000 samples per day. The government is working to increase the testing capacity to 1 lakh tests per day within the next few days.
Health secretary, Preeti Sudan, held a review meeting with states through video conferencing on Wednesday, and discussed the functioning of the systems dashboard, Covid-19 portal, apart from releasing the RT-PCR application.
The health secretary again directed states that medical treatment to non-Covid-19 patients should not be denied, and essential care such as dialysis, cancer treatment, diabetic care, anti-natal care for pregnant women and those suffering from cardiac ailments and other chronic conditions must continue.