Pointing to a steady spread of Covid-19 infections in India, the latest government data shows that the number of districts with a weekly test positivity rate (TPR) of 10% or more has increased to 32 across 14 states and UTs, a 3. 5-fold rise in two weeks.
TPR is the percentage of total samples testing positive for Covid. Two weeks ago, nine districts across five states had recorded a TPR of at least 10%, which is a marker of a high caseload. There were 63 districts spread across 19 states/UTs where the TPR was 5-10% in the March 19-25 week, up from 15 (across eight states) two weeks ago, the data shows. Four districts of Delhi were in the list of those recording the highest weekly TPR - South (13. 8%), East (13. 1%), North-East (12. 3%) and Central (10. 4%). Others included Wayanad (14. 8%) and Kottayam (10. 5%) in Kerala, Ahmedabad (10. 7%) in Gujarat, and Sangli (14. 6%) and Pune (11. 1%) in Maharashtra.
Doctors said Covid patients were showing similar set of symptoms as during the third wave of the pandemic in India between January and March last year, and hospitalisations continued to be relatively low.
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the national Covid task force of the Indian Medical Association, said hospitals across the country were not getting a rush of Covid patients as yet. “But we need to follow this more closely,” he said.
Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of Delhi’s Lok Nayak hospital said there were two Covid-19 patients currently admitted in the hospital. “One patient is on oxygen support while the other requires ventilator support,” he said.
PM Modi chairs meet on preparedness
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile directed officials to enhance whole genome sequencing of Covid-positive samples to support timely tracking of newer variants, if any, and timely response.
Modi, who chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 and influenza situation in the country, also emphasised the need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour, including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients and health professionals. “He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas,” a statement issued by the PMO said.
The meeting was also attended by principal secretary to PM P K Mishra, Niti Aayog member Dr V KPaul and cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba among others, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan made a detailed presentation on Covid-19 cases. He said the country was witnessing a slight rise in infections.
Ahmedabad records 118 new Covid cases
The test positivity rate (TPR) in Ahmedabad reached 10. 5% on Saturday, according to the data by ministry of health & family welfare of the Government of India – it indicated that one out of every ten tests carried out for Covid turned out to be positive.
Ahmedabad was one of the 29 districts of India to have 10% or more TPR. Three other districts - Morbi, Rajkot, and Vadodara - had more than 5% TPR at 5. 9%, 5. 9% and 5. 4% respectively.
The state recorded 303 new Covid cases on Sunday out of which 118 were from Ahmedabad city alone.
Other cases included 30 from Rajkot city, 25 from Surat city, 17 from Morbi, 16 from Vadodara, and 14 each from Vadodara city and Rajkot among others. The state also recorded death of a positive patient in Valsad district.