COVID SITUATION STABILISING, SAYS HEALTH MINISTRY AS POSITIVITY RATE DROPS TO 12.45%

The Covid-19 positivity rate has declined from 24.83 per cent on May 10 to 12.45 per cent on May 22, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

Addressing a press briefing, Niti Aayog member (health) VK Paul said that though there has been an overall decline in case burden but the positivity rate is still over 10 per cent in 382 districts. The Covid-19 situation is stabilising with positivity rate, daily cases and active cases reducing, Paul said.

Eight states have more than 100,000 active cases while 18 states have over 15 per cent positivity rate, joint secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said during the briefing.

The ministry also addressed the availability of Amphotericin-b, they key drug used to treat cases of Mucormycosis or black fungus, saying that the production of the drug is being increased and the ministry is touch with five additional manufacturers to ramp up supply.

“Amphotericin B was available in the country in limited supply. Its availability and supply is now being increased. Ministry of Pharma is coordinating with Ministry of Health for providing license to five additional manufacturers,” Agarwal said.

The country has recently reported an increase in the number of cases of Mucormycosis, which some experts have attributed to misuse of drugs in treatment of Covid-19. NEW DELHI: