One-third of India's districts record over 5% positivity rate

One-third of India’s districts still have over 5% test positivity rate indicating high viral spread in several parts of the country.

According to district-wise data collated by the ministry of health and family welfare between June 5 and 11, around 258 of the 734 districts in India or 35% have a high test positivity rate of over 5%. Test positivity rate is the proportion of Covid-19 positive cases out of the total tests performed. It is an indicator of the viral spread in a district. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), positivity of less than 5% is required at least for a week before the district administration can consider unlock guidelines.

Of the 734 districts, 143 have test positivity rate of over 10%, 115 have between 5% and 10% and 476 have less than 5%. The data shows that 143 or 20% of the districts have high test positivity rates which are of concern. About 51 of these districts are in the five southern states and 49 in the eight north eastern states –– a clear indication of how the viral spread may have been controlled in north India but these two regions remain a challenge. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of districts (16) with over 10% test positivity rate. It is followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 15, Kerala at 14, Odisha 13, Rajasthan 12 and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh 10 districts.

The health ministry data also shows how the states are relying on RT-PCR, considered the gold standard for Covid-19 testing. Earlier, ICMR had moved away from its insistence of conducting at least 70% of tests through RT-PCR. This was done to expand the testing net in the second wave and ensure that more people are tested even if it is through rapid antigen tests (RAT).

The latest data shows that, on an average, 52% of tests are RT-PCR and 48% RAT. In several districts, 100% of the tests are RT-PCR. A majority of these districts are in Tamil Nadu, including Ranipet, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Perambalur, Erode, Ariyalur, Thiruvarrur, Tiruppur, Tiruchirapalli, Cuddalore, Karur and Theni. Longding district in Arunachal Pradesh and Zunhebeto in Nagaland have also conducted all tests through RT-PCR.