As part of its 3T strategy of focusing on testing, tracing and treating to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, India crossed a landmark, testing 2,02,02,858 COVID-19 samples so far.

This is pursuant to the key strategy followed by state/UT governments under the guidance of the centre for management of Covid-19 to “Test aggressively, Track efficiently and Isolate and Treat promptly", the health ministry said in a release Monday. Effective implementation of this approach has led to ramping up the testing capacity across the country and facilitated widespread Covid testing of people.

With 3,81,027 samples tested in the 24 hours to Monday evening, the number of tests per million (TPM) has increased to 14,640. While the country's TPM has demonstrated a steady upward trend indicating the growing testing network, 24 states and UTs have reported higher testing per million than the national average.

The testing lab network in the country is continuously strengthened with 1,348 labs in the country; 914 labs in the government sector and 434 private labs.

Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to Serum Institute of India, Pune, to conduct Phase II+III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in India. This will hasten the development of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Case Fatality Rate improves
India continues to improve the Case Fatality Rate (CFR), and maintain its global position of having one of the lowest Covid fatalities rates. With a further fall, the CFR touched 2.11% Monday. This is the outcome of the well conceived and effectively implemented strategy of "Test, Track and Treat" which has guided the Covid management in the country.

The management strategy of Covid-19 also focuses on early detection and isolation of cases with seamless patient management and prioritising care of the high-risk population using field health care workers leading to increase in recoveries across the country. India has seen more than 40,574 patients recovered in the 24 hours to Monday evening. This takes the total recoveries to 11,86,203 and Recovery Rate to 65.77% amongst Covid-19 patients.

With improving daily recovery number, the gap between the recovered cases and the active cases has increased to more than 6 lakh. Currently, it is 6,06,846. This means the actual active case load is 5,79,357 and all are under medical supervision.