12 out of 100 samples test positive in Chennai

Chennai

According to sources in the Chennai Corporation and Directorate of Public Heath, the samples taken from around 6,000 to 7,000 persons are being tested every day in various labs in the city. “The authorities keep changing the testing policy and the number of samples collected and tested has increased during the period,” a source said.

As per the daily case report (bulletin) released by the health department, as many as 967 and 806 cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday respectively, which are highest one-day-rise since the outbreak. In other words, around 12 persons are tested positive for every 100 samples tested by the city labs.

Every day, the State government is testing around 10,000 samples, and on Tuesday, as many as 11,097 samples were tested in all the districts including the city. While releasing the daily report on the cases, the State government does not make the number of samples tested district-wise public.

“A few weeks ago, we were asked to send the family members of the positive persons only if they show any symptom. Now, directions are given to send all the close contacts for the testing. Due to this, testing and new cases will increase for a few days,” a zonal health officer of the Chennai Corporation said.

Presently, the civic body has 40 sample collection centres and 10 mobile sample collection centres. Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation and the state health department are releasing contradictory numbers while releasing the number of deaths in the city. As per the State government bulletin, as many as 150 persons had died on Tuesday, but according to the Chennai Corporation, only 135 persons had died. On the other hand, the positive cases are in the rise in the worst-affected Royapuram zone as the number of affected persons has crossed 3,000 on Tuesday. On Tuesday alone, 105 new cases reported in the zone.

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