Andhra Pradesh crosses one crore COVID-19 tests, recovery rate increases

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh crossed the mark of testing more than one crore samples for COVID-19 logging 1,00,17,126 tests as on Sunday morning. With extensive testing and timely treatment the mortality rate stands at 0.81 percent which is lower than the national average of 1.46 percent. As on November 29, 2020, a total of 1,00,17,126 samples have been taken of which 8,67,683 have tested positive and 91,49,443 were negative. Andhra Pradesh stands first in India among big states with 1,87,587 tests per million population (98,004 national average). Of 1,00,17,126 tests, 52,38,479 are RTPCR, 7,41,711 truenat and 40,36,936 are rapid tests.

The state government worked as per an action plan to contain the spread of COVID-19 and utilised the services of village volunteers at the best for community surveillance, monitoring health conditions, and many more. Starting with zero testing facilities, in no time, the State government ramped its health infrastructure and established 150 testing laboratories including government, private, and TrueNat labs by June along with dedicated hospitals for treating COVID patients. The first lab for COVID-19 was established on March 7th, 2020 and increased its capacity to 150 labs. Apart from 15 testing facility centers, COVID-19 tests are being conducted in 4 private labs, 44 VRDL labs, 90 Truenat labs, 6CBNAT, 5NACO and 5 CLIA labs.

Andhra Pradesh followed decentralised model of Sample Collection Centres. About 1519 facilities acted as the Sample Collection Centres ranging from Teaching Hospitals to Primary Health Centres. Apart from Centres, Mobile RRT Teams covered the nook and corner of the state prioritising Containment Zones. To provide better access to citizens for testing, 122 State owned VERA & APSRTC buses were set up as mobile units for Sample Collection Centres. These centres were equipped with all required COVID facilities with adequate kits and disposable waste bins and cold boxes to preserve the samples collected.

They were also equipped with computers and hardware required to digitalise the data of samples collected in a real time basis to MSS portal and citizens receive acknowledgement soon after sample is collected and report is also sent to their registered mobile immediately after the sample is processed. The huge lab infrastructure has been created which will benefit the state post Covid also to fight all viral diseases. A campaign was held to create awareness on mask wearing.

The campaign was rolled out with an aim of ensuring 100% mask compliance in rural and urban through IEC, Mass Media, Digital Media. State Government has distributed three re-usable masks to each person in the State to promote its usage.