SMALLER STATES SHOWING UPWARD TREND IN CASES: GOVT

NEW DELHI: Smaller states are showing an upward trend and there is a need to be cautious about it, said Union health minister Harsh Vardhan while reviewing Covid-19 situation of the north-eastern states and West Bengal on Wednesday.

In a statement, the health ministry said the virus was spreading to pockets of the North-east that are difficult to reach in terms of geography. “There is a new and emerging trend in the country where the smaller states are showing an upward trend,” said Vardhan.

The review said all districts of Mizoram are showing a rise in new cases. Nagaland shows a sharp increase in daily cases— from 15-20 per day to 300 cases per day— and weekly positivity rate -- the proportion of people testing positive for Covid-19 -- is up from 1% to 34%.

All districts of West Bengal are showing a steep increase in positivity rate. →P4