Mizoram among Northeast states top in COVID-19 testing

AIZAWL: Mizoram has become the “best-performing state in the Northeast” with more than 9 lakh samples tested for coronavirus.

According to 2011 census reports, it is more than 82 per cent of its population.

According to Pachuau Lalmalsawma, state official spokesperson on COVID-19, the main reason behind the high detection rate of COVID-19 positive cases in the state was because of “good performance in sample tests”.

Reportedly, he said the daily infection rate during the second wave of the pandemic was usually high in the state as most samples were collected from suspected people.

On Tuesday, during a news conference, Lalmalsawma said, “Mizoram is the best-performing state among North-eastern states in sample testing for COVID-19 virus and is also in the top 10 charts in the country. We have tested at least 9,05,112 samples for COVID-19 till September 5, which is 82.96 percent of 10.9 lakh population according to 2011 census”.

Moreover, the official also claimed that the state has performed the RT-PCR and TrueNat Test in the NE after Assam.

As per the reports, the proportion of RT-PCR and TrueNat tests is 26.52 percent of the total population of the state.

However, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state is 65,696.

According to the official 4,476 COVID-19 cases were detected in the state during the first wave, at least 61,220 cases were detected from April till September 7 this year. Further, the official said while 1,655 cases were reported in April, 6,268 were reported in May followed by 8,093 in June, 18,433 in July, and 21,074 in August this year.

On Tuesday, Mizoram reported its highest single-day spike as 1,468 new COVID-19 cases were reported raising the total tally to 65,696.

According to a statement by the state information and public relations department, two more fatalities due to the infection were reported on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 227.

As per reports, the single-day infection rate was 11.92 percent. Also, fresh cases were reported from 12,315 samples.

Mizoram currently has 10,879 active cases of the infection with 54,590 recovered people including 534 people on Tuesday.

Meanwhile,the recovery rate among COVID-19 patients is 83 percent and the death rate is 0.34 percent.