Decline In Weekly Covid Positivity Rate, But Second Wave Not Over Yet: Health Ministry

Kerala is one state that has more than 1 lakh active cases. Four states have 10,000 to 1 lakh active cases - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

People flout covid norms at a market in New Delhi. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Amid the rising concern over the possible third wave of Coronavirus in the country, Union Health Ministry on Thursday said that overall declining trend in weekly positivity observed across India since week ending May 10, but haven't yet seen end of second wave. 

In its daily presser on Coronavirus, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that as many as 279 districts were reporting 100 cases on a daily basis in June 2021, the number has come down to 42 districts that are reporting more than 100 cases on a daily basis on August 30. 

"Kerala is one state that has more than 1 lakh active cases. Four states have 10,000 to 1 lakh active cases - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Rest of the states/UTs have less than 10,000 active cases," Bhushan said. 

The official also said that 39 districts reported over 10 per cent weekly Covid positivity in week ending Aug 31, whereas 38 districts showed 5-10 per cent weekly positivity rate during this time.

Bhushan also said that people should celebrate festivals at home, follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and embrace vaccination. 

Mass gatherings should be discouraged but if attending it is essential then full vaccination should be a prerequisite, he said urging people to get the jabs and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, especially during the festive season.

India's Vaccination Drive

While speaking on the vaccination drive, the Health Ministry official said that 16 per cent of the total adult population of this country has been fully vaccinated, whereas, 54 per cent of the total adult population of this country has received at least one shot. 

"We administered 18.38 crores of doses in the month of August 2021 alone. The average dose per day administered in August is 59.29 lakh. In the last week of the month we administered more than 80 lakh doses per day," he said.

He also said that Sikkim has administered second dose to 36 per cent of their population, Dadra & Nagar Haveli has administered to 18 per cent and Himachal Pradesh has administered second dose to 32 per cent population.

"Sikkim, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Himachal Pradesh have administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccination to 100% of their 18 plus population," Bhushan said.

India's Covid Tally 

India recorded its highest number of daily COVID-19 infections in over two months with 47,092 people contracting the disease as the country's total tally of cases rose to 3,28,57,937.

The number of active cases has climbed to 3,89,583 and comprise 1.19 per cent of the total infections. Meanwhile, the death toll has increased to 4,39,529 with country witnessing 509 more fatalities.