India Covid report: Below 5% positivity rate in 531 districts

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 18

Government experts on Friday said there was no clear evidence yet on what levels of herd immunity in a population would be sufficient to ward off Covid-19 virus, warning people against laxity amid massive disease spread and progressive fall in infection rates.

In a significant marker of disease reduction, 70 per cent of India (531 districts) reported less than 5 per cent positivity rate on Friday.

Also, daily cases today were at 62,480, over 85 per cent less than the May 7 peak of 4.14 lakh.

However, the government urged people not to lower their guard noting, “Although 531 districts have less than 5 per cent positivity rate as of today, variants can keep coming. Prevention tools against all kinds of mutations are the same — vaccination and Covid-appropriate behaviour.” Commenting on the AIIMS, New Delhi, study which revealed that more than 55% children and more than 63% adults may have already been infected by Covid during the second wave, Member, Health, NITI Aayog, VK Paul said, “So far as the study findings regarding vast proportions of the population showing antibodies go, the fact is we cannot take anything for granted on herd immunity. The evidence on this is not clear. Brazil had a 70% infection prevalence rate but a new variant caused massive devastation. Likewise in Delhi, we knew the sero positivity rate was around 56% before the Delta variant came and played havoc.”

HC NOTICES TO CENTRE, DELHI OVER VIOLATIONS

• The Delhi High Court on Friday took cognisance of massive violations of Covid protocol in the Capital
• It issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi Government
• “The memory of the second wave has not left us… Yet people behave in this manner,” Justice Navin Chawla said.
• It asked the Centre and Delhi Government to take strict steps and sensitise shopkeepers to prevent Covid spread