Chennai: ‘In 2 weeks, 10% of residents will be covered’ – Times of India

CHENNAI: The city corporation which began conducting RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 in March had tested a mere 1.03 lakh samples until May 15. Since then, the testing rates have increased three-fold and as on date, the corporation has tested more than five lakh samples.
Noting that the approximate population of the city is 80 lakh, corporation commissioner G Prakash said in two weeks’ time, the civic body will have tested about 10% of the population, a feat achieved by very few cities in the world. “People might have a doubt as to how many tests are considered ideal. Across the world, testing 10% of the population is achieved by very few cities,” he said.

As far as India is concerned, Chennai has the highest testing percentage, Prakash said and pointed out that in the recent days, testing numbers have reached as high as 14,000 a day. On Tuesday, the civic body pegged the numbers at 10,943.
The commissioner noted that the last two lakh samples of the total 5 lakh odd drawn till date were taken in 20 days. Focused volunteers appointed by the corporation too have been identifying upto 3,500 people with symptoms on an average every day and they are taken to the fever clinics for testing.
Prakash said the civic body has also formulated an action plan to consistently test traders and workers in the city markets on a daily basis to identify and isolate those with symptoms.
“We have been compulsorily testing expectant mothers. For the past two weeks, we have started focused testing in city markets. Since, markets are a necessity and there is going to be consistent activity, testing workers and shop owners is necessary. On an average, about 700 people are tested every day,” Prakash said and added this would be intensified in the coming days and if this testing cycle is repeated five times, wherein workers in markets are identified and isolated, the transmission can be brought down.
There are 81 markets in the city and several of them witness crowding. Only on Tuesday, fisheries minister D Jayakumar announced that sale of fish in Kasimedu harbour will be restricted to five hours — from 3am to 8am.
The area is already off limits for general public and is meant only for vendors. Yet, last Saturday saw crowding at the market which forced the administration to take steps.