Data | India's coronavirus testing rates are among the lowest in the world

Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan scaled up their test rates and contained the spread

Passengers undergo a thermal screening test in the wake of novel coronavirus scare at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Monday, March 9, 2020.

While most of China’s neighbours have been able to contain the spread of COVID-19, countries far from it are seeing an exponential surge in cases. Early testing and wider coverage distinguish such Asian countries from Western countries. However, India is dangerously placed as it has among the lowest testing rates.

COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India

The disease spread varied among continents

The graph shows the number of COVID-19 cases since the 100th case in each country. Many Asian nations (indicated by blue lines) have contained the spread to a large extent, whereas Europe (yellow lines), the Americas (red lines) and West Asia (green lines) are seeing an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases

Varying spread

More tests meant better results

The graph plots the number of virus tests per million population as of March 9 against the number of COVID-19 cases as of March 13 for nations that have provided this data.

Tests done vs cases recorded

 

Higher test rates meant better results

The graph shows virus tests per million population as of February 4 (indicated by purple circle) and March 9 (pink circle). As of February 4, the testing rates of all nations were similar, but since then, some nations have scaled up the rate of testing by a huge margin and contained the spread of COVID-19.

Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan scaled up their test rates and contained the spread, whereas the U.S. and U.K. have not done so and have seen an exponential rise in cases. India too has not scaled up the rate of testing.

Test rates

 

Quick response helped contain spread

The graph shows the date on which testing/screening started. While Taiwan and S. Korea initiated this process early, the rest took their time to get going.

Early birds

 

Last word

In India, though the testing rates are abysmal, as of Sunday no spike in disease spread has been reported. But the exponential rise of cases in Western nations, which have similarly low rates of testing, should set the alarm bells ringing.

Stories in this Package

Data | What is the COVID-19 vaccine policy of countries across the world?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | U.K. variant of the novel coronavirus spreads at least 50% faster than old variants

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Sumant Sen,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | U.S. bears the brunt of global COVID-19 deaths in December; Delhi, W.B. and Punjab record spurt in fatalities

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | How India fared in various COVID-19 parameters since March, compared with other countries

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | India's COVID-19 testing declines sharply despite rising positivity rate

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

From 0 new COVID-19 cases to 10,000 in six months: dissecting Kerala's second wave

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | COVID-19 infections continue to grow at a constant pace in India

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | Lower COVID-19 fatality rate in rural areas not necessarily due to lower share of co-morbidities among rural population

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

The Hindu Explains | Is COVID-19 intensifying in rural India?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | What's afoot on the COVID-19 vaccine front?

Naresh Singaravelu

Data | COVID-19 deaths in India are rising third fastest in the world

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Puducherry's pandemic trajectory shows the need for more testing

Pon Vasanth B.A

Data | India's COVID-19 cases are the fastest growing in the world

Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Less reliable rapid antigen tests ramped up in many States

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Coronavirus | In contrast to initial stages, districts now push tally in Tamil Nadu

Pon Vasanth B.A

Data | COVID-19 resurges in Kerala as migrants return, testing rate drops

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Overcrowded jails and the COVID-19 contagion

Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Among nations with a high case load, infections continue to double in less than 20 days only in India

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Understanding Chennai’s COVID-19 trend

Pon Vasanth B.A

Data | How do States fare on reporting COVID-19 data?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Not just Mumbai and Chennai, COVID-19 cases are starting to swell in Cooch Behar and Ayodhya too

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Major uptick in COVID-19 cases in the past week and it's not just the usual suspects

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Coronavirus deaths increasing significantly in several States

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Domestic violence complaints at a 10-year high during COVID-19 lockdown

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | A study of India's coronavirus cases: symptoms to secondary transmission

The Hindu Data Team

Data | Karnataka, Telangana, A.P. see sharp spike in COVID-19 cases; burden easing in Delhi

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | COVID-19 has affected higher share of men in India, difference relatively lesser in other countries

The Hindu Data Team

Data | An estimated 12.2 crore Indians lost their jobs during the coronavirus lockdown in April: CMIE

The Hindu Data Team

Data | Sudden spike in cases results in fastest COVID-19 doubling rate in Punjab in the past week

The Hindu Data Team

Data | States which tested more in the initial days of the coronavirus outbreak found it easier to contain the spread

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Why handwashing and physical distancing are a privilege to the poor

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Migrant workers' distress continues as nationwide lockdown extended for the second time

The Hindu Data Team

Data | The variable impact of the novel coronavirus across different countries

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | A State-wise comparison of coronavirus infection doubling rates and testing

Srinivasan Ramani,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Kerala flattens the coronavirus curve but must remain vigilant as 'import' cases still dominate

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Why has Mumbai seen the most coronavirus cases in Maharashtra?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Where are the coronavirus hotspots in India?

The Hindu Data Team

Data | The lockdown effect on jobs in India

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | How quickly are coronavirus infections and deaths increasing in India, compared to the rest of the world?

The Hindu Data Team

Data | 96% migrant workers did not get rations from the government, 90% did not receive wages during lockdown: survey

The Hindu Data Team

Data | How fast are India's coronavirus cases doubling since the lockdown?

Srinivasan Ramani,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Who gets tested for coronavirus determines infection rates better than how many are

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | How many doctors and nurses have tested positive for coronavirus in India?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | India's coronavirus infection rates are among the highest in Asia

Naresh Singaravelu

Data | From 129 to 430 districts in a month: how coronavirus cases are spreading thick and fast

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

COVID-19 | Under which zone does your district lie?

Srinivasan Ramani,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | In the battle against COVID-19, severity of lockdown matters less than testing rates

Srinivasan Ramani,Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | Are States testing enough compared to the size of their coronavirus outbreaks?

The Hindu Data Team

Data | Is India undercounting its COVID-19 deaths?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | The curious case of Gujarat's COVID-19 curve: remained flat throughout May

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Why is it necessary to test more to reduce the impact of COVID-19?

Srinivasan Ramani,Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | The path to 5 lakh coronavirus cases: infections, fatalities spiralling; testing rate consistently coming down

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Most COVID-19 deaths occurred within two days of hospital admission in Chennai, Karnataka

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | India's COVID-19 situation worst among Asian countries

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Japan's limited testing strategy for coronavirus does not yield in the long run

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Which States recorded the most coronavirus cases, deaths, and the best testing rates?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | To reduce coronavirus spread, India needs to test more, lockdown notwithstanding

Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Who are the most vulnerable to the lockdown among urban dwellers

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Coronavirus | Patient data from Singapore and South Korea shows physical distancing is the only option

Vignesh Radhakrishnan, Srravya C.

Data | How prepared are India's States in health infrastructure to tackle COVID-19

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | Kerala leads States in testing for coronavirus, Maharashtra in infections

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | Where does India stand on the coronavirus curve?

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | COVID-19 is deadliest for the elderly

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | 5,680 flights cancelled: the coronavirus impact on global air travel

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | Coronavirus death rates peak in Italy and Spain

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

Data | India's coronavirus testing rates are among the lowest in the world

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

You're in this story

Data | Govt. rarely passes on the benefit of falling crude oil price to consumers

Vignesh Radhakrishnan

COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India

Data | Where does the March 9 market crash rank among the biggest falls in Sensex history?

Naresh Singaravelu

Data | Is COVID-19 spreading faster outside mainland China?

Naresh Singaravelu, Srravya C.

Data | The wide, rapid spread of the novel coronavirus

Vignesh Radhakrishnan