Lok Sabha Question No. 1103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Increase in COVID Tests
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1103 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

## INCREASE IN COVID TE STS

## 1103. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA R AJU:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the need for more COVID - 19  tests  across  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the suggestions made by the States to control the spr ead of Corona virus;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  into  account the  States/UTs'  request  to  increase  the funding through National Disaster Response Fund and if so, the response of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the details of other remedial measures being tak n by the Government to extend the help to fight COVID - 19 pandemic?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) and (b) Recognizing the importanc e of early detection of cases through testing, capacity f COVID - 19  testing  in  the  country  has  been  enhanced  manifold.    With  the  evolving  scena laboratory network is continuously being strengthened. From a situation of a single lab equipped to undertake testing for Covid in January, presently 1,751 laboratories are condu COVID - 19 Testing (as on 16 th September 2020). Laboratories have been established in difficul terrains like Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland as well as other Nor th Eastern states, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar island. Currently the testing is about 1 million tes day  (which  translates  to  720  tests  per  million  population  per  day),  much  higher  tha stipulated by WHO which is 140 tests per million popula tion er day. As on 16 th September, 2020,  total  of  6,05,65,728  samples  have  been  tested.  Besides  the  gold  standard,  Real Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT - PCR), testing is also being done through Truenat and CBNAAT platforms. In addition, rapid Point - of - C are (PoC) Antigen detection tests are being utilized which have quick turn -around time.

(c)  During the video conferences held with the States, the States have suggested requir augmenting  testing  facilities,  creation  of  infrastructure,  requirement of  PPE,  V ntilators  etc., fund requirement and best practices followed in their respective States.

(d)  Expenditure  related  to  COVID - 19  measures  is  allowed  is  allowed  under  State  Disaster Response  Fund  (SDRF)  only  ,  on  (i)  Measures  for  quarantine  for  sam ple  collection  and screening, (ii) Procurement of essential equipment/laboratories for response to COVID - 19, (iii) Relief measures -provision for temporary accommodation, feed, clothing, medical care etc. request was received with regard to increase th e funding through National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)

(e) Government of India has taken a series of actions to prevent, control and mitigate the of COVID - 19 . India followed a whole of Government and whole of society approach. Hon'ble Prime  Minister,  a  High  level  Group  of  Ministers  (GoM),  Cabinet  Secretary,  Committee Secretaries  and  senior  officers  in  MoHFW  continue  to  monitor  public  health  response COVID - 19 in the country.

The public health actions were taken in a pre - emptive, pro - active, graded manner based on  the  evolving  scenario.  A  number  of  travel  advisories  were  issued  restricting  inf international travelers, till such time, commercial flights were suspended on 23 rd March, 2020. Till then, a total of 14,154 flights w ith 15,24,266 passengers have been screened at these airports Screening was also done at 12 major and 65 minor ports and land border crossings. In the part of the pandemic, India evacuated a large number of stranded passengers from then CO affe cted countries (China, Italy, Iran, Japan, Malaysia) and again in the un - lockdown phase, a total of 13,18,891 passengers have been brought back (as on 14 th September, 2020) and followed up.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is conducting con tact tracing through community surveillance. In the earlier part of the pandemic, this was done for travel rela and subsequently for cases being reported from community as a part of containment strateg on 14 th September 2020, a total of about 40 lakh persons have been kept under surveillance. There  are  726  laboratories  conducting  COVID - 19  Testing.  India  is  testing  is  about  1  million samples a day. A total of 5.8 crore samples have been tested so far (as on 14 th September 2020).

As on 15 th Sept ember, 2020, a total of 15,360 COVID treatment facilities with 13,20,88 dedicated isolation bed without O 2 support have been created. Also, a total of 2,32,516 oxygen supported isolation beds and 63,194 ICU beds (including 32,409 ventilator beds). Guideli nes on Clinical management of COVID - 19 have been issued and are being updated regularly.

States are being supported in terms of supply of logistics. So far 1.41 Crore of P 3.44 crores N - 95 masks, 10.84 crore tablets of Hydroxychloroquine and 30,6 63 ventilators and 1,02,400 oxygen cylinders have been supplied to States/UTs/ Central Government hospitals far (as on 14 th September, 2020).

Various cadres of personnel and volunteers across sectors and departments for COV related works and maintenan ce of other essential medical services have been worked out, train through resources made available on the website of MoHFW ,iGOT (online platform) by DOPT ( https://igot.gov.in/igot/ ).

MoHFW website is being daily to provide general public with information on cur status of COVID - 19 spread in India. Communication material is also being hosted on MoHFW website and through social media. A dedicated call centre / helpline (1075) has been st ted to guide community at large which are being used by the citizens very effectively and on a basis.

More than 30 vaccine candidates have been supported which are in different stage development, 3 candidates are in advanced stage of Phase I/II /III trials and more than 4 are in advanced pre -clinical development stage. A National Expert Group on Vaccine Administratio for COVID-19 has been constituted on 7th August, 2020, under NITI Ayog. Thirteen clini trials of repurposed drugs have been und ertaken to build a portfolio of therapeutic options fo Covid- 19 patients.

A  package  of  Rs  15,000  crores  was  approved  under  'India  Covid -19  Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package'. A total of Rs. 4,256.79 crore of grants were provided under COVID - 19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package.

Besides this State/UTs have been supported for technical guidance in terms of guide advisories, containment plans, Standard Operating Procedures etc.