After cases, positivity rate down too in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

The Covid spike is witnessing a reverse trend in the state. Not just the absolute number of cases and deaths, the test positivity rate (TPR) has also come down significantly.

A total of 4.95 lakh samples were collected in the past one week, but only 45,246 were found positive for Covid. Thus, last week’s TPR came down to 9.1 per cent.

• Also read: 60% casualties in Muktsar district from rural areas
• Three die of black fungus in Amritsar
• Mansa village sees 10 deaths in 25 days
• After Moderna, Pfizer also refuses vaccine to Punjab

The test positivity rate remained between 1 and 2 per cent during January and February, but started increasing after that. Two weeks ago, it hit the peak, when the state on May 10 reported 22 per cent positivity rate. Since then, it is regularly declining and on Sunday, the rate was

just 6 per cent.

During the second wave, the state’s positivity rate consistently remained above 10 per cent. Last month, the state’s overall positivity rate touched 15 per cent. The situation was especially worrying in six districts, including SAS Nagar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Fazilka, Mansa and Muktsar, where positivity rate was above 15 per cent.

According to experts, positivity rate is an important indicator as it helps to understand the quantum of infection spread. Apart from test positivity rate, the number daily deaths have also come down around 150, which was earlier between 200 and 225. Similarly, the cases have also come down to 5,000 from 10,000.

4.95 lakh samples taken in one week

• Of the total 4.95 lakh samples collected in the past one week, only 45,246 have been found positive for Covid
• The test positivity rate remained between 1 and 2 per cent during January and February, but started increasing after that
• Two weeks ago, the Covid cases suddenly surged when the state reported 22 per cent positivity rate on May 10