Ranchi: The testing capacity of state-run RT-PCR labs has taken a hit owing to manpower crisis amid a fresh surge in cases.
As per health department records, the total number of tests conducted in a single-day in this month hasn’t crossed the 20k-mark barring Tuesday when the total number of tests was 27,260. The testing numbers recorded in the first five days of April were 15,529, 16,943, 19,741, 12,072 and 18,230, respectively.
According to the directions of the health department, Covid-19 tests in the state are to be conducted in a 70:30 ratio wherein 70% of total tests have to be carried out through the RT-PCR method and the rest 30% through TrueNat and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) kits. On April 6, a total of 19,082 RT-PCR tests were conducted across the state, but during the peak of the first wave this number had crossed a lakh.