MUMBAI:
Maharashtra’s daily
positivity rate is inching towards double digits after dipping to 5% in January. On Wednesday, daily positivity crossed 8%, while in several districts, it was two to five-fold the state’s average. A persistent dip in positivity rate was one of the factors considered for reopening of all sectors in the state and the city.
Data shows that till February 5, daily positivity rate was within 5%, which has nearly doubled in the last week. From 4.8% on February 4, it jumped to 6.9% on February 10 and to 8% by February 14. On February 15 and 16, the state’s daily positivity remained over 9%. On Wednesday, it dropped marginally after tests were scaled up by more than 20,000 compared to previous days.
A rise in positivity rate is an indicator of continued transmission and inadequate tests being carried out in a region. The state on Tuesday had revealed how the rate in districts, particularly from
Vidarbha, was exceptionally high. For instance, Amravati was 56%, Bhandara was 26%, Akola had a positivity rate of 22%, while in Buldhana it was 26.5%. In other regions too, such as Sindhudurg, positivity rate was 44%.
Analysis of testing numbers for early February had shown 14-15 districts were conducting fewer than 500 tests in a day. Abysmal decline was observed in districts such as Parbhani, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, where on certain days 200 samples were tested in the district. Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer, said testing numbers have increased. On Wednesday, over 58,000 tests were carried out in the state, up from 37,000-50,000 in the previous few days.
But testing has to be scaled up manifold and swiftly, said experts. Dr Subhash Salunkhe, a member of the state’s technical committee, who is monitoring the situation in Vidarbha, said scale-up is not up to desirable levels. “There are reasons for it. Primary one is contact tracing and tracking has slacked and that impacts samples tested,” he said. He said groups across districts have to regroup and carry out tracing intensely.
A member of the state
Covid task force said that for every positive person, at least 20 contacts must be traced. “It has to be more intensive in districts like Amravati, where a new variant could be behind the spread,” the member said. The state had seen daily positivity of up to 22% inSeptember. “As testing increases, we will see a dip in positivity,” Awate said. In Mumbai, AMC Suresh Kakani said the daily positivity rate is 4% despite a marginal spurt in cases.