million for as early as Feb 22, a rate matched by the UK two weeks later. Germany also steeply increased its testing rate starting Mar 10. The total number of samples tested in Germany was 918,460, as of Mar 29 and the case doubling time was 9 days. S. Korea had tested 443, 273 (1% of the total population) cases as of Apr 3 and the case doubling time was 33 days. In contrast, test numbers in India were negligible, and doubling time was 4 days 1,2 . Importantly, testing capacity globally is currently limited. S. Korea, at number three after US and China in terms of testing kit production, can only support a capacity of 1,35,000 tests per day at present 3 . Additionally, ICMR guidelines such as "Laboratory test should only be offered when prescribed by a qualified physician" and 48 hours of turnaround time for test results further delay case identification and isolation 4 . Conclusions: If India was to mirror the testing rate of S. Korea, w15 million individuals may have to be tested within coming few weeks to be able to bend the curve of the COVID-19 cases. A balance of both the strategies -exponentially increasing testing and social distancing will be crucial. Sources: 1. https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" l "testing-for-covid-19, accessed on Apr 6, 2020 2. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104809/days-for-covid19-cases-todouble-select-countries-worldwide/, accessed on Apr 6, 2020 3. News: http://www.arirang.com/News/News_View.asp?nSeq=254993 4. MoHFW website, https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/NotificationofICMguidelinesfor COVID19testinginprivatelaboratoriesiIndia.pdf, accessed on Ap 7, 2020

Background: Obesity is recognized as a chronic disease, associated with a variety of metabolic, cardiovascular and neurological complications. Prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, more so in the developing countries. It is affecting both sexes and all age groups. Body mass index BMI along with presence and severity of obesity associated complications are used to identify, successively increasing stages of obesity. The present study aims to study prevalence of overweight, obesity (stage 0,1,2) and morbid obesity in adult residents of Punjab state in an effort to determine burden of this lifestyle disorder in different age groups and sexes, so that a comprehensive action plan can be designed to target appropriate group with specific preventive measures .Methods: 1000 subjects were surveyed and labelled as non-obese, overweight, obese or morbid obese based on their BMI, presence and severity of obesity related complications. Point prevalence amongst different age groups of both sexes were determined and compared.Results: In study population 41.5% subjects were non-obese, 15.9% were overweight, 29.4% were obese and 13.2% were morbidly obese. The prevalence of all the 3 conditions (overweight, obesity and morbid obesity) increased with increasing age in both sexes. The prevalence was more among females of all age groups than males for ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’. But gender based difference narrowed down with increasing severity of disease, such that female to male ratio reversed (<1) for morbid obesity. Moreover, peak prevalence of overweight and obesity were attained little later in females as compared to males. However, for morbid obesity peak prevalence is seen in same age group (40-49 years) in both sexes.Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are more prevalent among females of all age groups than males with peak prevalence achieved little later in females as compared to males. However, gender based differences in prevalence decreased as severity increased and morbid obesity was more prevalent among males than females.