Bhubaneswar: Even as the daily COVID-19 caseload remained over 10,000 for the fifth consecutive day on Monday, Odisha saw a slight dip in the test positivity rate (TPR) in the last three days following a drop in the number of tests.
According to data available with the Health and Family Welfare Department, the daily caseload in Odisha dropped from 11,807 on May 8 to 10,635 on May 9. On May 9, a total of 48,757 tests, including 17,946 RT-PCR, were conducted as against 50, 799 tests, including 20,365 RT-PCR, on May 7.
The TRP shot up to 24 per cent on May 7 as the state saw the biggest spike of 12,238. The following day, it was 23.2 per cent with 50864 samples being sent for COVID tests.
On May 9, testing dropped to 48,757 and do also the TRP to 21.8 per cent.
The following day, 48,377 samples were sent for tests and 10031 were found to be positive. The TRP was 20.7 per cent.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Pradipta Mohapatra said it has been decided to increase the daily number of tests to 75,000 with around 40 per cent RT-PCR tests.
Mohapatra, however, added that the state government is unable to conduct more rapid antigen tests due to the shortage of kits and has urged the Centre to provide more kits.
Meanwhile, 10 districts have higher TPR than the state average. Sambalpur district topped the chart with 50.7 per cent TPR, followed by Kalahandi (43.8), Bargarh (32), Angul (34.7), Sundargarh (29), Puri (27.8), Jharsuguda (26.5) and Cuttack (24.3).
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