COVID-19 situation going from bad to worse, it is a huge cause for worry: Health Ministry

Amid a massive spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Health Ministry in a press conference on Tuesday (March 30), said that there is a need to exponentially increase tests in states, Union Territories that are reporting a rise in caseload. The ministry also said that the COVID-19 situation going from bad to worse recently, it is a huge cause for worry.

"We spoke to representatives of these states. We told them why are they not increasing testing when cases are increasing. It's essential to increase testing with a focus on RT-PCR tests. Rapid Antigen tests should be used for screening tests in densely populated areas," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

"Ramp-up testing with a focus on RT-PCR, isolate promptly, trace contact, boost healthcare resources," the government said to states with a spike in cases.

There are 10 districts across the country that have the most number of active cases - Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Bengaluru Urban, Nanded, Delhi and Ahmednagar. Delhi, taken as one district and eight such districts are from Maharashtra.

The health secretary also said that the weekly national average positivity rate is 5.65 per cent. Maharashtra has a weekly average of 23per cent, Punjab has a weekly average of 8.82per cent, Chhattisgarh 8 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 7.82 per cent, Tamil Nadu 2.50 per cent, Karnataka 2.45 per cent, Gujarat 2.2 per cent and Delhi 2.04 per cent: Union. He also added that Punjab is neither conducting an adequate number of tests nor is being able to promptly isolate COVID-19 positive people.