Pune/Mumbai: The covid The hospitalization rate in the state remains at the same level as last week at 5.7%, while the test positivity rate remains at 23.8%, said the weekly report of the Department of Public Health presented before the cabinet on Wednesday.
While around 22 districts, including Pune, have recorded high positivity rates, the hospitalization rate in the state has remained stable. The weekly positive rate (WPR) in thirteen districts was below the state average. Mumbai (8.5%) and Palghar (7.5%) are the only two districts with single digit WPR.
Several districts reported positivity rates of over 40%, a direct indicator that testing numbers were inadequate. Nagpur tops with a high positivity rate of 44.5%, followed by Pune at 42.5%, Nashik at 40.9%, Gadchiroli at 39.2% and Wardha at 38.1%.
State Additional Chief Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas told TOI that the hospitalization rate among active patients is 5.7%, while 94.3% are in home isolation. The report also said that only 1.9% of those admitted were critical, 0.8% admitted to the ICU, 0.3% on ventilators and 0.5% of those who required oxygen.
Public health officials said the testing was limited to only symptomatic persons as per the ICMR protocol, while the state was conducting around 2 lakh tests daily. “Most of the districts had reached their peak and were declining gradually, but cases are increasing in rural areas, as suggested by experts,” an official said.
However, doctors say that even people with symptoms are not getting tested and are starting treatment straight away. There is also a lot of reliance on self-testing kits, the results of which are not communicated to the authorities. “There is a low count of cases in the third wave. However, it is important to test those who have COVID pneumonia or have severe symptoms, otherwise we will end up missing deaths too,” a senior doctor told TOI.
In Mumbai, the daily positivity rate, which had gone up to 30%, had come down to 3.2% on Thursday, according to BMC commissioner IS Chahal.
National Task Force member Dr Subhash Salunkhe said the way forward is to keep a close watch on hospitalization and oxygen usage and increase testing of symptomatic persons in rural areas. Cases will increase in different areas by the end of February, but hospitals should be kept ready on standby mode till June. Vaccination should also be increased.
Nagpur, Pune have 40%+ positivity on less testing
The state’s Covid hospitalization rate remains stable at 5.7%
While around 22 districts, including Pune, have recorded high positivity rates, the hospitalization rate in the state has remained stable. The weekly positive rate (WPR) in thirteen districts was below the state average. Mumbai (8.5%) and Palghar (7.5%) are the only two districts with single digit WPR.
Several districts reported positivity rates of over 40%, a direct indicator that testing numbers were inadequate. Nagpur tops with a high positivity rate of 44.5%, followed by Pune at 42.5%, Nashik at 40.9%, Gadchiroli at 39.2% and Wardha at 38.1%.
State Additional Chief Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas told TOI that the hospitalization rate among active patients is 5.7%, while 94.3% are in home isolation. The report also said that only 1.9% of those admitted were critical, 0.8% admitted to the ICU, 0.3% on ventilators and 0.5% of those who required oxygen.
Public health officials said the testing was limited to only symptomatic persons as per the ICMR protocol, while the state was conducting around 2 lakh tests daily. “Most of the districts had reached their peak and were declining gradually, but cases are increasing in rural areas, as suggested by experts,” an official said.
However, doctors say that even people with symptoms are not getting tested and are starting treatment straight away. There is also a lot of reliance on self-testing kits, the results of which are not communicated to the authorities. “There is a low count of cases in the third wave. However, it is important to test those who have COVID pneumonia or have severe symptoms, otherwise we will end up missing deaths too,” a senior doctor told TOI.
In Mumbai, the daily positivity rate, which had gone up to 30%, had come down to 3.2% on Thursday, according to BMC commissioner IS Chahal.
National Task Force member Dr Subhash Salunkhe said the way forward is to keep a close watch on hospitalization and oxygen usage and increase testing of symptomatic persons in rural areas. Cases will increase in different areas by the end of February, but hospitals should be kept ready on standby mode till June. Vaccination should also be increased.
Nagpur, Pune have 40%+ positivity on less testing
The state’s Covid hospitalization rate remains stable at 5.7%
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