Higher positivity indicative of hidden Covid-19 transmission in states: Harsh Vardhan

The statement made by the health minister could be an alert as far as India's Covid-19 fight is concerned especially at a time when the country has been witnessing a spike of cases due to winter, festive season and pollution.

New Delhi: The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday while reviewing the pandemic situation of seven states including Maharastra, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Goa said that higher positivity of Covid-19 cases is indicative of hidden transmission of the disease.

"Active cases are on the rise in recent days in Manipur. Higher positivity in the state is indicative of hidden transmission," said Vardhan and admitted that states like Maharastra, Manipur, Aizawal and Mizoram have been witnessing high active cases.

The statement made by the health minister could be an alert as far as India's Covid-19 fight is concerned especially at a time when the country has been witnessing a spike of cases due to winter, festive season and pollution.

Vardhan added that although the active cases have come down in Maharastra, it continues to have a large active caseload, with a fatality rate (2.6 per cent) which increase to 3.5 per cent in and around Mumbai.

He said that the case fatality rate is higher in Uttarakhand than the national average of 1. 64 per cent.

Adding that 40 per cent of total deaths were recorded in just one month in Goa which is a cause of worry, he said, "With 70 per cent of cases concentrated in Aizawal, Mizoram is seeing a further rise in active cases. Tripura and Meghalaya are witnessing higher deaths (37 per cent) in the age groups of 45-60 years which are preventable."

The Minister informed that as on date, there were only 4.09 per cent active cases on oxygen support, 2.73 per cent of active cases in ICU and a minimum of 0.45 per cent active cases are on ventilators support.

He cautioned on the need for more vigilance in the coming winter and long festive season which could threaten the gains made against Covid-19.

Dr Vardhan also advised the states to focus on higher testing especially in districts with higher positivity, mandatory testing of symptomatic negatives by RAT, focus on high-risk groups and vulnerable populations for SARI/ILI surveillance which can give an indication of infection.

"Higher testing should be done in areas like bazaar, market places, workplaces, places of gathering among others," said Dr Vardhan.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister TS Rawat informed in the meeting that challans have been issued to 1.4 lakh for faulting on social distancing and 4.5 lakh on mask negligence.

Maharastra health minister Rajesh Tope has said that his government has conducted 5.7 lakh survey for SARI/ILI patients "out of which 51,000 Covid-19 positive cases were identified."

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan while attending the meeting said that states should focus on three areas including the need to break the chain of transmission, keeping mortality rate less than 1 per cent and the need for prolonged behavioural change.

Meanwhile, in a related development AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said during a webinar that keeping Pfizer vaccine in India could be a challenge.

"Pfizer vaccine has to be kept at -70C which is a challenge for developing countries like India where we will have difficulties in maintaining a cold chain, especially in rural areas," said Dr Guleria.

On Tuesday health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that India is in talks with all vaccine manufacturers for Covid-19 vaccine.