Nagaland COVID-19 sample test ratio second lowest in India

Imkong Walling
Dimapur | May 30

Nagaland has a poor COVID-19 sample testing track record even though the State government has not admitted it. A high sample positivity rate and other indicators clearly pointing to community spread, the State still maintains an unhurried testing rate. 

As per the covid19india.org data, Nagaland had the lowest sample test ratio not only in the North-east but also among the States in India. Only the union territory of Daman & Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli had a lower test ratio. (See table A)

Nagaland’s present testing rate at 88 per thousand population is way below the country’s 257 per thousand, as on May 30. 

For perspective, testing has not picked up enough speed almost two months on, since the second wave hit. From 69 tests per thousand population in mid-April, the rate reduced to 68 per thousand as April transitioned into May. 

It increased to 79 per thousand in the second week of May to reach a record high of 96 per thousand between May 15-May 21, only to drop to 88 per thousand as the month ended. 

As 2020 ended, the testing rate was at 59 tests per thousand, which happened to be less than half of the country’s 129 tests per thousand at the time. 

Furthermore, Nagaland is among 10 states and union territories with the highest sample positivity ratio. (See Table B)