Coronavirus | Cases rising in 15 States; positivity rate at 21%, says ICMR chief

The nationwide COVID-19 positivity rate stood at 21% and 310 of the 734 districts had reported positivity higher than or equal to the nationwide common, Balram Bhargava, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), stated on Tuesday.

At the Health Ministry briefing, Dr. Bhargava stated the nation now had the RTPCR testing capability of about 16 lakh a day and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) capability of about 17 lakh a day. Stating {that a} complete of 19,45,299 exams have been performed on April 30, the very best ever in the world, he stated the 30-crore landmark was achieved by May 7.

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Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Punjab, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have proven continued rising development in every day new COVID-19 instances. On the opposite hand, 18 States and Union (*15*) have recorded continued plateauing or a lower in instances.

Indicating a change in coverage, the ICMR chief stated for the reason that an infection was spreading quick throughout the second wave, RT-PCR exams had been rationalised and RAT (Rapid Antigen Testing) elevated for early detection, isolation and residential care. He stated a number of 24×7 RAT cubicles have been to be arrange in cities, cities and villages.

Advocating aggressive RAT utilization in rural and distant areas, Dr. Bhargava stated these exams could be allowed at all the federal government and personal well being care services. RAT cubicles must be arrange in faculties, schools, residents’ welfare affiliation workplaces and different locations, in cooperation with native communities. The authorities would additionally encourage public-private partnership fashions.

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Health Ministry spokesperson Lav Agarwal stated an early declining development had been observed in the previous couple of days, with the variety of new instances coming down from about 4.14 lakh on May 7 to 4.03 lakh instances on May 9, and from 3.66 lakh to three.29 lakh in the previous 24 hours.

There have been about 37 lakh lively instances, whereas over 1.90 crore sufferers had recovered up to now. Close to 2.50 lakh deaths (1.09% of the entire instances) had been reported, he stated.

Mr. Agarwal stated 26 States had greater than 15% positivity, 9 with over 25% and 10 States with 20-25% positivity. The highest of 49.6% was in Goa, adopted by Puducherry with 42.8% and West Bengal with 34.4%. On day-on-day foundation, the general positivity on April 27 was 19% and since then, it had gone all the way down to 18%.

State-wise, essentially the most variety of lively instances continued to be reported from Maharashtra (5,93,150), adopted by Karnataka (5,71,026), Kerala (4,20,076), Uttar Pradesh (2,25,271) and Rajasthan (2,03,017). In 13 States/UTs, there have been greater than 1 lakh lively instances; 50,000 to 1 lakh in six and fewer than 50,000 in 17.

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Mr. Agarwal stated the Centre had supplied about 17.01 crore vaccine doses at no cost to the States and the folks had already obtained them. In collaboration with the States, 25.59 lakh doses have been additionally given to the 18-44 age group.

Sharing updates on oxygen availability, Home Ministry Additional Secretary Piyush Goyal stated oxygen manufacturing in the nation had risen from 5,700 MT per day in August 2020 to greater than 9,000 MT per day in May. There had been seven fold improve in the availability of liquid medical oxygen, from 1,320 MT in March to eight,943 MT on May 9.

Several further measures have been being taken to extend oxygen availability, which included provides from the metal and the small and medium enterprises sector. Jumbo hospitals with 12,400 beds have been being arrange, with the availability of gaseous oxygen from refineries and energy/metal vegetation, whereas one lakh oxygen concentrators have been being procured underneath the PM Cares Fund.

In all, 5,805 MT of oxygen was being imported from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, France, Singapore and Bahrain. Oxygen tankers had been elevated from 1,040 in March final 12 months to 1,681 with 23,056 MT capability. The Railway and Air Force have been repeatedly helping in the expeditious distribution of oxygen.

Cryogenic tanks for oxygen storage in hospitals had been elevated from 609 in March 2020 to 901 in May, whereas oxygen cylinders had elevated from 4.35 lakh to 11.19 lakh. Hospitals earlier instantly procured oxygen from suppliers. However, following a surge in the instances in April, the Centre determined to develop an allocation course of to make sure rational distribution. A digital central management room was arrange for real-time monitoring.

The authorities was in continued talks with the vaccine producers to enhance manufacturing capability, stated Mr. Agarwal in response to a question.