Pune still among 10 districts with weekly Covid positivity rate higher than state average

Overall active cases in the state (2.3 lakh as on June 1), however, have dropped by 24 per cent from 3 lakh infections in September last year. According to a health department report till June 1, weekly Covid positivity rate in Maharashtra was 8.47 per cent. In the week from May 5 to 11, weekly positivity rate in the state was 22.57 per cent, which has now come down to 8.47 per cent in the week from May 26 to June 1.

There are 13 districts, whose weekly positivity rate is higher than the state average: Raigad (18.59 per cent), Ratnagiri (17.32 per cent), Satara (16.73 per cent), Sangli (16.10 per cent), Kolhapur (16.04 per cent), Pune (14.23 per cent), Buldhana (13.96 per cent), Sindhudurg (13.19 per cent), Beed (9.06 per cent), Osmanabad (8.90 per cent), Thane (8.85 per cent), Bhandara (8.82 per cent) and Nashik (8.74 per cent).

According to the state report, till June 1, there were a total of 30,092 active patients in Pune followed by 20,777 in Satara, 20,147 in Mumbai, 18,590 in Kolhapur and 18,339 in Thane. A total of 44,036 patients are critical along with 15,854 in intensive care units across the state.

In a positive development, there are nine districts whose weekly positivity rate is lower than 5 per cent, including Nagpur, Yavatmal, Nandurbar, Chandrapur, Gondia, Dhule, Jalna, Nanded and Jalgaon.

Dr Awate said stepping out for essential work was necessary as there was a need to step up socioeconomic activities.

“However, it is important to observe Covid-appropriate behaviour and observe restrictions. People can contract the disease and, hence, it is the responsibility of the public as well as the health department to bring down positivity rate to lower than 5 per cent in each district,” he said, adding that people should avoid weekend picnics or celebrations in large groups.