Positivity rate touches 15% in GB Nagar; health dept says there’s no need to panic
NOIDA: The Covid-19 positivity rate in Gautam Budh Nagar district has increased to about 15%, with 800-900 tests being conducted daily, officials said Sunday. Seventy-six fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in the district, taking the active caseload to 280. Officials added that though cases are rising, the positivity rate has not spiked too much and hence the public need not panic. Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who test positive for the virus compared to all those who have been tested for it.
“The Delhi-ncr cities are seeing a rise in cases, but there is no need to panic yet. The active cases have increased, but it is important to note that there is not a single person who has been hospitalised. Even the surveillance teams have reported that most of the infected patients are not serious and do not even need the medicine kits that are being provided. We are still taking precautions and have had discussions with the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS). We have told hospitals to be on alert,” said Suhas LY, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar.
Data from the last three months shows that during the third wave in February, the positivity rate of samples tested in government labs was 2.13% and in private labs was 17%. In March, the positivity rate of samples tested in government labs was 0.18.% and in private labs was 5%. In April so far, the positivity rate of samples tested in government labs was 0.22% in government and in private labs was 10%. However, there has been an increase in the last four days, wherein the positivity rate of samples tested in government labs has reached 0.41% and touched 17% in private labs.
As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, the Uttar Pradesh government has put the National Capital Region (NCR) districts of Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad on high alert following a meeting with chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday.
Additionally, discussions with pharmacists and the drug control officer have also revealed that there is no major increase in sale of Covid-related medicines. DM Suhas further said that unlike the wave last year, when there was a large number of patients hospitalised, hardly anyone tested positive during hospital screenings in the past few days.
Suhas added that while cases among children are also increasing, no school has reported cases in clusters as of yet.
“Of the 280 active cases, 88 are children in Gautam Budh Nagar. Ghaziabad also has 37 infected children,” Suhas said.
“There are about 570 public schools and over 1,400 private schools in the district. All have been told to set up Covid-19 helpdesks within their premises. Secondly, we have asked them to inform parents that children with flu-like symptoms should not be sent to school. Similar instructions have also been given to offices, industries and factories,” Suhas added.
Meanwhile, the DM also said that no restrictions will be imposed for now with regard to intercity travel between Noida, Delhi, Ghaziabad and other NCR cities. “Self-regulation is the best practice and people should continue to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. There is more exposure during travel, so people should be careful,” he said.
According to available data, Ghaziabad reported 27 new cases on Sunday, taking the active caseload to 113. While Ghaziabad has tested over 2.8 million people since the beginning of the pandemic, Gautam Budh Nagar has tested around 2 million. The positivity rate in government labs is 0.84% in Ghaziabad and 0.41% in Gautam Budh Nagar in the last 24 hours.
Self-regulation is the best practice and people should continue to follow Covid protocols. SUHAS LY, district magistrate, Gbnagar