NEW DELHI: Only one in every 24 samples tested for Covid-19 in India is positive, the government and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said comparing it with the “positivity ratio” of various other countries like Japan, Italy, the US and UK which show a less number of tests for each confirmed case.
“In a country like Japan, one out of 11.7 tests turns out to be positive, which is among the highest in the world. Italy tests 6.7 persons for one positive test while the US tests 5.3 persons and UK 3.4,” ICMR chief epidemiologist Dr R R Gangakhedkar said. Reiterating that India’s testing ratio is not low as 23 out of 24 tests are resulting in a negative, he said, “We have a huge population and not all people belong to vulnerable groups. Hence, can’t say our testing ratio is low.”
The figures offered by the health ministry and ICMR also seemed a response to Congress functionary Rahul Ga
