Pakistan carries out highest number of COVID-19 tests in a day this week

Arab News Pakistan
A health official collects a swab sample from a teacher to test for the COVID-19 coronavirus at a government school following the government's announcement to reopen educational institutes starting from September 15, in Karachi on September 14, 2020. (AFP)
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  • 42,299 tests carried out on Wednesday with two percent positivity rate, Asad Umar says 
  • Pakistan has seen a slowing of coronavirus numbers since June when it recorded 7,000 infections in one day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar has said Pakistan had conducted the highest number of coronavirus tests in one day on Wednesday this week.
Pakistan lifted nearly all lockdown restrictions on businesses and tourism last month and this month began the phased reopening of schools and universities also.
“Significant build up in covid testing done to carry out sentinel [random] testing at educational institutions in order to identify early trends, if any,” Umar said in a Twitter post. “42,299 tests carried out yesterday which is by far the highest ever. Positivity ratio continues to be stable below 2%.”

The South Asian country has recorded more than 308,000 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 6,500 deaths, but has seen a slowing of numbers since June, when it recorded nearly 7,000 infections and 118 deaths in a single day.
Around 798 cases were recorded in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, according to a government portal.
 

Topics: CORONAVIRUS PAKISTAN COVID-19 Tests