NEW DELHI: Daily new cases of Covid-19 are increasing at around 43% week-on-week, whereas a 37% rise in daily new deaths have been recorded across the country, officials said raising concerns about the rapid surge in particular districts in some states.
Data shows 70 districts in 16 states have registered over 150% increase in Covid-19 cases during March 1-15, whereas the infection is rising at 100-150% in 55 districts in 17 states.
“Most of these districts are in west and north India,” health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.
Maharashtra – that has consistently been on the list of states with high caseload – still accounts for 60% of all active cases as well as 45% of new deaths are concentrated in the state. The average daily new cases are also increasing rapidly in the state. The weekly moving average of new cases show it has risen from 7741 cases on March 1 to 13,527 on March 15. The average test positivity rate at 16.4% in Maharashtra is also significantly higher than the national average. On March 1, the positivity rate was at 10.9%. However, the tests to detect the infection have not increased proportionately with the test positivity rate, Bhushan said.
Similarly, in states like Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh the tests have failed to keep pace with increasing number of cases and positivity. In many states and UTs like Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, the share of RT-PCR is also significantly low.
The Centre has advised states witnessing a surge to increase tests in proportion to the positivity rate and also maintain the share of RT-PCR at a minimum of 70%.
The health ministry has also asked states to ensure strict adherence to mask wearing, physical distancing and hand hygiene along with greater vigilance and monitoring at the highest levels for all potential events where crowds gather.
States have been asked to ensure clinical management in districts reporting higher deaths and efficient implementation of ‘test, track and treat’ strategy.
“We are advising the states to ensure all close contacts of any positive person are traced, isolated and tested in 72 hours. They have asked to identify clusters, focus on surveillance and stringent implementation of containment zone approach and undertake priority vaccination of identified groups in districts reporting higher cases,” Bhushan said.
Data shows 70 districts in 16 states have registered over 150% increase in Covid-19 cases during March 1-15, whereas the infection is rising at 100-150% in 55 districts in 17 states.
“Most of these districts are in west and north India,” health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.
Maharashtra – that has consistently been on the list of states with high caseload – still accounts for 60% of all active cases as well as 45% of new deaths are concentrated in the state. The average daily new cases are also increasing rapidly in the state. The weekly moving average of new cases show it has risen from 7741 cases on March 1 to 13,527 on March 15. The average test positivity rate at 16.4% in Maharashtra is also significantly higher than the national average. On March 1, the positivity rate was at 10.9%. However, the tests to detect the infection have not increased proportionately with the test positivity rate, Bhushan said.
Similarly, in states like Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh the tests have failed to keep pace with increasing number of cases and positivity. In many states and UTs like Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, the share of RT-PCR is also significantly low.
The Centre has advised states witnessing a surge to increase tests in proportion to the positivity rate and also maintain the share of RT-PCR at a minimum of 70%.
The health ministry has also asked states to ensure strict adherence to mask wearing, physical distancing and hand hygiene along with greater vigilance and monitoring at the highest levels for all potential events where crowds gather.
States have been asked to ensure clinical management in districts reporting higher deaths and efficient implementation of ‘test, track and treat’ strategy.
“We are advising the states to ensure all close contacts of any positive person are traced, isolated and tested in 72 hours. They have asked to identify clusters, focus on surveillance and stringent implementation of containment zone approach and undertake priority vaccination of identified groups in districts reporting higher cases,” Bhushan said.