India’s laboratories are struggling to deal with an influx of coronavirus test requests as the country tackles record-breaking numbers of infections and deaths each day.
Thousands of anxious people every day are rushing to book appointments with labs and hospitals for tests to find out whether they have contracted the deadly virus.
India has had a record-breaking number of infection cases during its second wave, with the country’s total caseload passing 18.3 million, the second highest after the US.
More than 200,000 people have died and many health experts say the official numbers are the tip of the iceberg.
On Tuesday, the nation of 1.3 billion recorded more than 362,000 new Covid-19 cases out of nearly 1.7 million people tested.
It also recorded the highest single day of deaths, with nearly 3,300.
The increase in infections has fuelled a rush on testing, leading to an acute shortage of testing material and a huge backlog.
Laboratories are taking up to a week to collect swabs and longer to provide test results, particularly the highly sought after reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, with many customers fuming over delays.
Some private labs are collecting 2,500 swab samples a day as they deal with a backlog of thousands of cases.
"There is a sudden surge in demand for RT-PCR tests since April 10 but we are unable to take samples for the test because of a huge backlog," Mohammad Bilal, 25, a sample collector at Radcliff Lifetech in northern Noida city, told The National.
"People get furious and even come to our homes for reports because they need medication.”
Health sources say the demand has tripled in the past two weeks after the country witnessed a sharp rise in infection cases along with the regular demand of Covid-19 negative certificates for domestic and international travel.
Dr Arjun Dang, associate lab director and consultant at Dr Dang Labs in New Delhi, said calls have increased threefold compared to the peak last year. and they are receiving more than 100 bookings a minute.
"Since the past week we have been flooded with requests because of a surge in the cases, and also as travel has opened and many hospitals also ask for a mandatory RT-PCR test prior to admission," Dr Dang told The National.
“We have three drive-through centres and home-collection services. In the peak time, we would open it for one to three hours but now we have been only able to open it for a few minutes.
"Even though we work on 200 per cent capacity it is so bad that we get overwhelmed with bookings."
The labs are also facing a shortage of essential reagents for certain blood tests.
Dr Dang said the lab had to discontinue the tests for two days because no new stock was coming in.
"These tests dictate management and to an extent the prognosis of Covid patients but because of the surge, there is a shortage of reagents for these tests,” he said.
India has conducted about 280 million tests since the pandemic outbreak last January, the country's Health Ministry said, amid criticism that its testing rate was severely low.
A parliamentary panel on health last November said that low testing could have played a vital role in the initial outbreak of the pandemic.
New Delhi has increased its testing rates after allowing private companies to conduct coronavirus tests, local reports and social media users claim that several state governments are forcing private companies to halt testing.
In the capital New Delhi, a city of 21 million where one out of three people tested has coronavirus, testing rates dropped on Monday from nearly 80,000 to 58,000.
States including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have also been accused of reducing testing to show smaller infection rates.
"India's daily testing has been significantly lower than what is desired. The average daily new cases in India have more than tripled compared to their previous peak while the average daily testing has not even doubled," Rijo M John, Adjunct Professor at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in Kochi, told The National.
“As a result, the test positivity rate has been soaring and is currently at 21 per cent at the national level with several states having close to 30 per cent or higher daily TPRs. This is suggestive of the fact that India is missing out on counting a lot of cases out there which may potentially lead to a larger spread among the population."
In the northern cities of Noida and Greater Noida, people with symptoms are struggling to book a home test and have to travel miles to give their samples at labs.
They say prices for tests are also rising.
Experts say the long delays were worsening the crises as infected people were unable to take remedial measures in time, aggravating their infection.
"I had to call 20 labs and struggled for three days before getting myself and my father tested," Jeet Sharma, an entrepreneur from Greater Noida, told The National.
“The delay in testing also delayed our treatment and left my father with a lung infection."
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
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The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
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8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
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A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Takestep%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohamed%20Khashaba%2C%20Mohamed%20Abdallah%2C%20Mohamed%20Adel%20Wafiq%20and%20Ayman%20Taha%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20health%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2011%20full%20time%20and%2022%20part%20time%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20pre-Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
LIKELY TEAMS
South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
