Rajasthan offers Covid-19 testing facilities to neighbouring states

JAIPUR: While Covid-19 cases are increasing drastically in neighbouring states, Rajasthan has offered testing facilities of up 5,000 samples daily to neighbouring states. During a meeting to review the pandemic situation in the state, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, Rajasthan, said that in times of crisis, states surrounding Rajasthan which are overloaded with cases and short of testing facilities can get tests done in Rajasthan. The state has the highest number of tests being performed daily in the country.

Gehlot also announced that by July end, all government hospitals in Rajasthan will have pipeline supply of oxygen instead of a cylinder based supply. He went on to note that the state managed to go from zero tests to over 25,000 tests daily while also improving the recovery rate in the state to touch 75 per cent. He said that constant monitoring and screening of patients is responsible for the high recovery rate in the state.

JitendraChaudhary, head of the lab technicians association at SMS hospital, said using the CB-NAAT machines and pooled testing technique has helped to ramp up testing capacity in the state. 72 CB-NAAT machines are being used for COVID testing. ICMR approved these diagnostic machines which are used for testing TB to be used for COVID testing.

Currently, testing is being carried out in 16 districts in the state though the chief minister and health minister have said that testing facilities will soon be developed in all 33 districts.