India has conducted over 13 crore tests for the detection of the COVID-19 infection, with the last one crore tests conducted in just 10 days, the Union Health Ministry confirmed on Saturday. 

The ministry also said that the cumulative positivity rate continues to remain low and is following a downward trajectory, news agency PTI reported.

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According to the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR), over 13.06 crore samples have been tested until November 20, with 10,66,022 samples being tested on Friday. 

The data showed that cumulative positivity rate remains low at 6.93%, with the positivity rate on Friday being at 4.34%. 

The ministry said that the higher number of tests being conducted have resulted in the low positivity rates. 

“An average of more than 10 lakh tests conducted daily has ensured that the cumulative positivity rate is sustained at low levels and is presently following a downward trajectory,” the ministry said. 

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As many as 24 states and Union Territories have conducted a higher number of tests per million than the national average. 12 states have lower tests per million than India as a whole and they have been directed to ramp up the levels of testing, the ministry said. 

According to the health ministry data updated on 8 am Saturday, India reported 46,232 fresh COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours.

“The daily positivity rate of 4.34 per cent point out that a comparatively huge volume was tested to detect these cases from the population. With a continuous surge in daily cases in European and the American countries, India is taking all cautionary steps to bring the trajectory of the disease under control.”

“In view of the increase in coronavirus cases of some of the north Indian states, the Centre has advised all states and Union Territories to ramp up testing,” the ministry said.

India’s current active caseload of 4,39,747 comprises 4.86% of total cases. The country has registered 49,715 new recoveries in a day taking the total recovered cases to 84,78,124 which exceed active cases by 80,38,377. The recovery rate has improved to 93.67%.

The health ministry said that 78.19% of the new recovered cases was contributed by 10 states and UTs.

Delhi saw 8,775 people recovering from COVID, while Maharashtra and Kerala reported 6,945 and 6,398 new recoveries, respectively.

Besides, ten states and UTs have contributed 77.69% of the new cases of coronavirus infections. Delhi reported 6,608 cases in a day. Kerala recorded 6,028 new cases while Maharashtra reported 5,640 cases on Friday.

Of the 564 new fatalities, 82.62% have been reported from 10 states and UTs. With 155 deaths, Maharashtra reported 27.48% of the new fatalities, Delhi accounted for 20.92% of the daily toll with 118 deaths.