In a first, Andhra conducts 4,000 COVID-19 tests in one day

Amaravati: After Andhra Pradesh received around one lakh rapid test kits made from South Korea, the state has conducted 4,000 COVID-19 tests in a single day, according to officials.

In the review meeting on COVID-19 chaired by chief minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, health officials confirmed that over 4,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the state using the rapid test kits as well as TreuNat machines.

After the number of patients began to increase in the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of COVID-19 testng centres in the state has increased from one to six. The state government has established more labs in Vijayawada, Kakinada, Anantapur, Guntur, Kadapa and Visakhapatnam for COVID-19 tests, as per health officials.

The state plans on increasing the number of labs to 12 in a week, with two more in Tirupati, one each in Kurnool, Prakasam and Srikakulam districts.

Earlier on April 17, Andhra Pradesh had received one lakh South-Korean made rapid test kits, that can provide the result in 10 minutes time.

According to data, AP stands fourth in the country in the number of COVID tests conducted. Meanwhile, the state health officials elaborated on the new tele-medicine facility launched by the state. As of April 18, more than 5,000 calls were received via tele-medicine. Medical services were provided for 5,219 people, while prescriptions were sent to those in need and medicines were provided free of cost, officials said.

As of April 18, the number of COVID positive cases in Andhra has crossed the 600 mark touching 603, with 31 more testing positive. On a positive note, seven more patients cured of the infection were discharged from hospitals in the State. The total number of cured cases are 42 now. With two more deaths due to COVID-19 reported on Saturday, the toll due to coronavirus in the State has reached 16.