Delhi: 15K samples collected in 24 hours for testing COVID

With the surge in coronavirus positive cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has become aggressive on the testing front. According to a senior official, in the last 24 hours alone, Delhi has collected over 15,000 samples for testing COVID-19.

Notably, on Thursday, a total of 7,040 samples were collected for rapid antigen test and 7,972 samples were collected for the RT-PCR test for coronavirus.

On June 18, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government had commenced COVID-19 testing through rapid antigen methodology at 193 centres.

Of 7,040 samples collected, through rapid antigen methodology, 456 tested positive. In the initial phase, those residing in containment zones are being tested.

On Thursday, the Central government said that it has provided 50,000 rapid testing kits, procured from South Korea, to Delhi. The Centre aims to conduct six lakh rapid antigen methodology tests in the national capital.

“We have targeted to conduct six lakh tests. People living in containment zones and relatives of the positive cases can go for the test in any of these (rapid test) centres,” Union Minister G Kishan Reddy told the reporters.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has also capped the rate of COVID-19 RT-PCR test at Rs 2,400 with the city witnessing an alarming spurt in coronavirus cases.

Delhi witnessed its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Thursday. While 2,877 cases were traced in the last 24 hours, the tally of COVID cases has reached close to the 50,000 mark. The deadly virus has already claimed 1,969 lives in the national capital.