Actual number of COVID-19 positive cases at least four times the reported count: Mazumdar-Shaw

Bengauru, Apr 9 () The actual coronavirus positivecases in the country will be at least four times the reportedcount, biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said onThursday, citing large number of people under quarantinewithout being tested.

Pitching for random testing, she also wanted makingwearing of face masks mandatory in public space. The country's death toll due to the coronavirus rose to166 and the number of cases to 5,734 in the country, accordingto the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. A total of 1,30,000samples had been tested for COVID-19 so far in country. I am sure the number (of positive cases) is much larger.It has to be much larger. If you look at the numbers inquarantine itself who have not been tested, I would say atleast four times that number it will be, minimum, Mazumdar-Shaw told . Testing only those with symptoms is not such a greatidea. A lot of asymptomatic people are also positive. Itsalso important to do some amount of random testing in theclusters. You need to do lot more testing. The more you test,the more positives you get. Only redeeming feature is that thenumber of those getting into ICU or dying is not huge, shesaid. The Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd saidshe personally believes that schools and colleges - high riskareas where the virus can easily spread -- should be shut tillJune end.

Large gatherings should not be allowed while malls andcinema halls should continue to be under lockdown. Social distancing has to be continued. One of the mostimport thing is you have get people to wear masks. Thats avery important thing when you lift the lockdown."

Everyone should wear mask in the public space, and itshould be made mandatory.

"In fact, you have fine people who are not wearingmasks. You dont know whos infected. Today, there are somany asymptomatic carriers. You dont want them to be goingaround and spreading it (coronavirus), Mazumdar-Shaw said. RSVS VS