<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asked officials to ramp up Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests in order to identify people afflicted with Covid-19 and treat them to help prevent the spread of the disease.</p>.<p>The state has a high population density and hence everyone needs to remain more alert and vigilant regarding protecting oneself from getting infected with the virus, the chief minister said at a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the state.</p>.<p>"The number of RT-PCR tests should be increased further. There is a need to increase testing in those districts which have witnessed high number of active Covid-19 cases. Testing should also be increased in riverine and 'taal' (low lying areas filled with water most of the time) areas, Kumar said.</p>.<p>He asked officials to ensure availability of RT-PCR machines at the earliest so that the number of tests can be increased.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html">Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>"More and more testing will help in identifying people infected with Covid-19. Their treatment would further help prevent the spread of the infection," the CM said at the meeting held via video-conference.</p>.<p>He asked officials to keep themselves updated with the latest Covid figures to formulate strategies to deal with the pandemic.</p>.<p>People need to be informed of the benefits of wearing masks, the chief minister said.</p>.<p>Health department's Principal Secretary Pratyaya Amrit informed Kumar that the total number of tests has increased from 8,70,852 on August 7 to 22,28,516 till date.</p>.<p>The state's recovery rate has also increased to 78.05 per cent from 64.44 per cent during the period, he said that the national average is now 74.30 per cent.</p>.<p>Around 1.15 lakh samples are being done every day now through RTPCR, TrueNat and Rapid Antigen methods, the officer said.</p>.<p>A 500-bed Covid hospital will become functional from August 23 at Bihta in Patna district, he said adding that another such facility would become operational in Muzaffarpur soon.</p>.<p>The first COBAS 8800 machine which can test 3,600 samples per day will reach the state by September 3, he said.</p>.<p>Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar and other senior officers attended the meeting. </p>
<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asked officials to ramp up Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests in order to identify people afflicted with Covid-19 and treat them to help prevent the spread of the disease.</p>.<p>The state has a high population density and hence everyone needs to remain more alert and vigilant regarding protecting oneself from getting infected with the virus, the chief minister said at a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the state.</p>.<p>"The number of RT-PCR tests should be increased further. There is a need to increase testing in those districts which have witnessed high number of active Covid-19 cases. Testing should also be increased in riverine and 'taal' (low lying areas filled with water most of the time) areas, Kumar said.</p>.<p>He asked officials to ensure availability of RT-PCR machines at the earliest so that the number of tests can be increased.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html">Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>"More and more testing will help in identifying people infected with Covid-19. Their treatment would further help prevent the spread of the infection," the CM said at the meeting held via video-conference.</p>.<p>He asked officials to keep themselves updated with the latest Covid figures to formulate strategies to deal with the pandemic.</p>.<p>People need to be informed of the benefits of wearing masks, the chief minister said.</p>.<p>Health department's Principal Secretary Pratyaya Amrit informed Kumar that the total number of tests has increased from 8,70,852 on August 7 to 22,28,516 till date.</p>.<p>The state's recovery rate has also increased to 78.05 per cent from 64.44 per cent during the period, he said that the national average is now 74.30 per cent.</p>.<p>Around 1.15 lakh samples are being done every day now through RTPCR, TrueNat and Rapid Antigen methods, the officer said.</p>.<p>A 500-bed Covid hospital will become functional from August 23 at Bihta in Patna district, he said adding that another such facility would become operational in Muzaffarpur soon.</p>.<p>The first COBAS 8800 machine which can test 3,600 samples per day will reach the state by September 3, he said.</p>.<p>Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar and other senior officers attended the meeting. </p>