+vity above 1% after 3.5mths, govt tells hosps to up vigil

Kolkata: The Covid positivity graph in Bengal climbed above 1% on Monday after a gap of more than three months. With cases rising in a few states, the Bengal government has asked all hospitals to be vigilant at a meeting of senior health officials at Swasthya Bhawan on Monday. Private hospitals, too, are bringing back Covid preventive measures.
On Monday, 53 of the 4,816 samples processed in the past 24 hours returned positive, taking the positivity rate to 1.1%. The last time the positivity rate had gone above 1% was on February 17. Health officials said even though there was no reason to press the panic button, the Monday meeting took stock of the situation so that it doesn’t spiral out of control.
“Covid is under control. But positivity reaching 1% is a matter of concern. We need to put all measures in place to contain it,” said a senior health official.
Sources said hospitals were asked to be more vigilant to prevent delay in detecting Covid cases, take up containment measures and be in a position to enhance Covid infrastructure if the need arises.
All hospitals and districts were also asked to escalate the vaccination drive. The task force on Covid was also reconstituted as several members opted out due to age-related issues.