Covid-19: In 3rd wave, Assam logs 20,000 cases in 14 days | Guwahati News – Times of India

GUWAHATI: Assam’s Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) has shot up by more than seven times, number of active cases have grown by over eight times and nearly 20,000 cases have been reported in the first fortnight of the third wave till Friday.
Also, during this period, 33 persons have died and 5,442 others have recovered from the infection, who were either in home isolation or admitted in hospitals.
The fast increase of the TPR continued on Saturday which saw it go past 9% mark while 3,390 new cases were added and four persons died on the day.
According to the data from NHM Assam, the state’s test positivity rate (TPR) on January 1 was 0.77% and it remained under 1% for only two more days. On January 9, the TPR went past 6% and has remained over 7% since January 13.
The Union health ministry’s data shows that in 15 of the 33 districts, the TPR in the last week (January 8 to 14), is more than 10%, which is above the state’s current peak of 7.87%. Charaideo district has recorded the highest TPR of 31.19% during the last week followed by Guwahati with TPR of 26.21% and Jorhat with 22.54%.
Twelve districts have shown TPR between 5% and 10% and the remaining six districts have recorded TPR below 5% in the last week. Only Majuli and Baksa districts have recorded TPR less than 3% in last week.
The TPR is the key metric being used to assess the extent of Covid spread in a geographical area. According to WHO, a TPR of less than 5% is one indicator that the infection is under control in a locality.
The NHM Assam daily situation reports show that the state’s daily average cases are 1,400 between January 1, considered the start of the third wave in the state, and January 14.
The high reporting of daily cases has also pushed up the number of active cases in the state. According to the ministry of health and family welfare, this number has galloped from 2,265 on January 1, to 16,614 in a fortnight.