Low testing, high positivity ratio in West Bengal is a challenge

Experts say there is an urgent need to ramp up testing

West Bengal on Sunday registered a record 19,436 new cases of COVID-19 infections, while the number of samples tested for COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours was 63,095. There has been a rise in the number of cases and deaths since the second wave of COVID-19 hit West Bengal, which has recently witnessed a high-pitched election. Over the past few days, the State has recorded more than 100 deaths due to the viral infection, and on Sunday the number of COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours was 124. Even as a significant number of samples are testing positive, the State government’s official health bulletin gives the rate as 9.05%. Manas Gumta, general secretary of the Association of Health Service Doctors said that, going by the figures of daily samples tested, COVID-19 positive cases should be between 30-35%.