Odisha has lowest rate of COVID-19 positivity in India: Official
This was stated by National Health Mission, Odishadirector Shalini Pandit in the media briefing here.
"We have only 0.4 per cent COVID-19 positivity againstIndias average of 4.3 per cent," she said.
Further elaborating the fact, Pandit said while therate of positivity in Delhi was highest at 8.4 followed byMaharastra at 7 per cent, Odishas positivity rate is only 0.4per cent.
She explained that the rate of positivity has declinedin the state with increase in the number of corona tests.While the state was conducting only 1,500 tests two weeks ago,it has increased to 15,000 a week by end of fourth week, shesaid.
Pandit also claimed that Odisha undertakes more coronatests than the national average. While the national average is452 tests per 10 lakh population, it is 662 in Odisha.
In the absence of vaccine or proper medicine to treatto COVID-19 cases, Pandit said testing is the prime measurewhich helps to reduce the number of mortality as well ascontain spread of the highly infectious disease.
The state government has now increased the number ofcorona tests and around 2000 tests are being conducted everyday. As the states positivity rate is 0.4 per cent, oneshould not wonder if 8 to 10 new positive cases are detectedevery day.
"We usually get one positive case in every 250 coronatests," Pandit said, adding that the state government conductstests keeping on vulnerability category like returnees fromabroad and within the country, people having come in contactwith earlier detected positive cases, people showing symptomsand health workers coming in contact with the affectedpersons.
"Earlier only symptomatic cases were tested, but nowsamples of all returnees, possible contacts and those in therisk category are being collected," she said.
Pandit said that identification of more positive caseswould mean that right samples are being picked for tests.
"This will help check further spread of the virus,"she said.
Pandit further said that asymptomatic cases in thestate are as high as 82 per cent and these people can spreadthe infection unknowingly.
She said the people should not violate guidelinesafter lifting of the lockdown period. "Once the lockdown islifted, people will have more responsibility while going out.They must maintain social distancing, frequent hand wash, useof mask and other requirements to contain the spread of thedisease," she said.
Pandit said one-third of COVID-19 patients have beendischarged from hospital after cure.
Of the 83 active cases presently in COVID Hospitals,Pandit said only six persons need medical attention because oftheir cough and cold. None of them require ventilator now, shesaid.