New Maha cases hit 10k amid tests spike

The number of new Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra crossed 10,000 on Wednesday, rising into the five digits for the first time since June 16, although this could mostly be due to an increase in the number of tests. The state recorded 10,066 new cases and also added 163 to its number of fatalities, counting 54 previously uncounted deaths from last week. Over the last two weeks, new cases in the state have decreased by 28%, but this reduction may also be driven by a reduction in the number of testing – daily tests have dipped by 7.86% in the same period. At the same time, the test positivity rate for the state as a whole has relented only marginally – 1.2% -- and as on Wednesday, the 7-day average test positivity remained in the 4%-5% range that it has been in since June 14.