Almost half of India shows less than 5% positivity, says health ministry

 While 344 districts have reported less than 5 per cent positivity for the week ending May 31, there are still 239 districts that are more than 10 per cent positive

Over 47 per cent of India’s districts are now showing a Covid positivity rate of less than 5 per cent as cases in almost half the country have declined in the last week, health ministry data showed. India’s positivity rate has also declined from over 21 per cent in early May to 8.3 per cent during the last week, the ministry said.

While 344 districts have reported less than 5 per cent positivity for the week ending May 31, there are still 239 districts that are more than 10 per cent positive. In the week ending May 7, only 92 districts showed less than five per cent positivity. Accor­ding to government estimates, there are 718 districts in India. The figure in the last census, in 2011, was 640.

“Testing and containment have worked in these six to eight weeks. We have to find a mechanism to ease the lockdown and it has to be done very gradually,” Balram Bhargava, director-general, Indian Council of Medical Research said.

The government has recommended a three-pronged approach for states to unlock as Covid cases begin to decline in most parts of the country. The states should ensure a weekly positivity rate of less than 5 per cent and vaccination coverage of at least 70 per cent among the vulnerable section, including the elderly and those above 45 years with comorbidities.

Bhargava also said that states should ensure community ownership of Covid-appropriate behavior in a big way.

According to health ministry data, 295 districts have been reporting more than 100 daily cases for the past week, as against 531 districts from April 28 to May 4.

Bhargava also said that vaccination is being ramped up and the unlocking had to be guided by the amount of vaccination done for the vulnerable group.