Bihar government has not focussed on ramping up testing despite its claims to the contrary, say activists
Photo: istock Bihar is not testing enough even as novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have surged in the past few days, an analysis of official state data shows.
This is contrary to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey’s claim that the state is conducting a large number of tests.
Bihar tested 184,750 people January 7, 2022, according to official data. About 3,048 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state. The total number of active COVID-19 cases rose to 8,489 and the recovery rate went down to 97.2 per cent.
The state conducted 173,745 tests January 6. It reported 2,379 COVID-19 new cases and two deaths on that day. The number of active cases in the state increased to 5,785 and the recovery rate decreased to 97.56 per cent on the night of January 6.
The number of tests conducted January 5 was 164,408, with 1,659 fresh COVID-19 cases reported. The number of active cases was 3,697.
Bihar conducted 144,675 tests January 4, 118,144 tests January 3 and 95,875 tests January 2.
The state reported 158 COVID-19 positive cases December 31. This rose to 281 January 1, followed by 352 new cases January 2, 344 cases January 3 and 893 cases January 4.
But the number of tests was more or less the same last week when COVID-19 cases were low.
According to the health department’s official Twitter handle, Bihar conducted 174,739 tests December 31, when the state reported 158 COVID-19 positive cases and the number of active COVID cases was 488. On January 1, the state conducted 162,459 tests. It reported 281 COVID-19 positive cases and the number of active COVID-19 cases was 749.
| Date | Tests done | COVID-19 positive cases | Active COVID-19 cases |
| December 31, 2021 | 174,739 | 158 | 488 |
| January 1, 2022 | 162,459 | 281 | 749 |
| January 2, 2022 | 95,875 | 352 | 1,074 |
| January 3, 2022 | 118,144 | 344 | 1,385 |
| January 4, 2022 | 144,675 | 893 | 2,222 |
| January 5, 2022 | 164,408 | 1,659 | 3,697 |
| January 6, 2022 | 173,745 | 2,379 | 5,785 |
| January 7, 2022 | 184,750 | 3,048 | 8,489 |
Source: Bihar Health Department
Dr Shakeel, the head of Bihar-based Centre for Health and Resource Management, a civil society organisation that works in the health sector, said the number of tests should be increased to more than 200,000 daily.
“The number of tests is currently low. Also, the number of RT-PCR tests is very low as most of the tests being conducted are antigen ones,” Shakeel told this reporter.
“The present number of tests is not high enough when compared to the rising number of positive cases and deaths in the state. The government should immediately increase the number of tests,” Ranjeev, an activist said.
He added that there had been no increasing trend in testing since the state reported a surge in positive cases.
This, even as the state’s recovery rate showed a declining trend in the past few days — decreasing to 97.56 per cent January 6, from 98.23 per cent January 1.
“This is not a positive sign in the fight against COVID-19,” Ranjeev said.
A senior official of the state health department told this reporter on the condition of anonymity that the government had not focussed on ramping up testing till date.
“The government has not directed rural health centres to increase testing and speed it up. The majority of tests are being conducted in urban areas,” he said.
He added that the central government had recently instructed some states including Bihar to ramp up testing because the number was less or low.
The Bihar government has imposed a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am from January 6 night. All shops and commercial establishments will be closed by 8 pm. Earlier, the government had announced a closure of schools and colleges till January 21.
The state government has cancelled leaves of all health officials, including doctors and healthcare workers, till February 28. It has asked all those on leave to immediately report to work.
Doctors and health workers continued to test positive across the state January 7 as well. Till date more than 400 doctors have tested positive.
Dozens of politicians including seven Bihar ministers, the national president of the ruling Janata Dal-United, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and the state Congress president have tested positive.
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