Centre warn as 46 districts see higher positivity Rate

Ten states are seeing an upsurge in Covid cases or rise in positivity rate, the government stressing on the need of strict restrictions in districts witnessing a positivity rate of more than 10 per cent. Apart from focusing on strict containment measures, states were also told today to "ramp up vaccination in the 60+ and 45-60 age categories as evidence shows near 80 per cent of the mortality is from this vulnerable age-group."  The centre's fresh review comes amid concern over a third Covid wave. 

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting with 10 states. All districts that have been reporting a positivity rate of more than 10 per cent in the past few weeks need to consider strict restrictions, the health secretary said to the representatives of Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur.  Director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Balram Bhargava, who was also present in the meeting, said 40,000 daily cases is not any reason for complacency. Around 46 districts in India are reporting more than a 10 per cent positivity rate and 53 districts are proceeding towards the danger zone as their positivity rate is between 5 per cent and 10 per cent. The states have been given a four-point guideline. Dr Bhagrava also advised these states to avoid all non-essential travel and to discourage all large gatherings of a crowd.