NEW DELHI: Maharashtra is the only state where the positivity rate has almost doubled to 7.7% in the last 14 days, between February 8-21, compared with the fortnight before that (January 26-February 8) when it was 4.7%.
The other “worry” state, Kerala, with the second highest cases reported after Maharashtra, has managed to slow down the pandemic with the positivity rate coming down from 9% to 7%. The all-India positivity rate during these two fortnights, however, remained static at 1.7%, indicating that the pandemic is largely under control across India, despite a few spikes, barring the two states.
Since November, Kerala’s positivity rate has been above 9%. The state added the highest number of 62,477 cases in the past 14 days, followed by Maharashtra at 54,597 cases. In the fortnight between January 26 and February 8, Kerala added 72,248 cases while Maharashtra reported 32,934 infections.
There is a sub-regional aspect to incidence of Covid as well as cases rising in Haryana, apparently due to proximity to Punjab where there is an increase in cases. Maharashtra, which has India’s highest 21 lakh confirmed cases so far and over 51,788 deaths, had its positivity rate peaking at 20% in July. The recent doubling of the infection rate indicates a second wave may have hit the state.