COVID-19 positivity rate declines to 2.67%; relief among Health workers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam has witnessed a significant decline in the COVID-19 positivity rate bringing a sigh of relief among doctors, Health workers and the general public.

This development has created a buzz in the social media.

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has tweeted that the State had conducted 1,34,570 COVID tests on Tuesday; of which 3,592 tested positive. The positivity rate has come down to 2.67 per cent, he said.

Till Sunday, the COVID positivity rate was above 6 per cent. "It is a matter of relief that only 3,644 cases out of 1,20,156 COVID tests, came out positive on Monday. So the positivity rate witnessed a sharp decline. But still we have a long way to go to contain the spread of the dangerous virus," an official in Health department said.

"Decrease in the detection percentage is a good sign. Hope the virus will die its natural death very soon, if not at least it's virulence will decrease," said Dr Munlima Hazarika, Professor, Medical & Pediatric Oncology at the Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), in one of her Facebook comments.

"The changes in human behaviour definitely lead to low infection rates. If it continues for another 15 to 20 days, then it will be a good sign to contain the situation. There is nothing called peak from my point of view. In pandemic, such ups and downs happen. It's a good sign and in order to maintain that, strict policies will have to be applied for those people who still take it for granted and don't follow the norms," said Tridip Deka a student of Zoology in Gauhati University, in his FB comment.

On other hand, the Health department continued its massive random test for the second day on Tuesday. During this drive, anyone found positive will be traced by another testing of 10 persons (family members and very close persons of the family) and another 10 persons from his/her work place or as identified by him/her. Thus, a total of 20 people will be traced and tested and treated, as per need.

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