Positivity rate down in Chhattisgarh but surge in infections in rural areas

A health department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deaths have increased in the last 15 days in predominantly rural districts such as Raigarh, Janngir Champa, Kanker

Published on: May 12, 2021, 10:14:30 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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The Covid-19 positivity rate has been declining in Chhattisgarh over the last week, but there has been a surge in infections in rural areas because of social functions such as marriages, health minister TS Singh Deo has said.

Deo called the social events the biggest super-spreaders in villages, where people were not taking the pandemic seriously. “We have asked the administration to be more alert and implement the curfew strictly.”

A health department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deaths have increased in the last 15 days in predominantly rural districts such as Raigarh, Janngir Champa, Kanker.

Raigarh (11,533) has the highest active case in the state followed by Raigarh (10,463).

The government on Monday said the positivity rate came down to 19% on May 9 from 28% on May 4.

Also Read | 348,421 fresh Covid-19 cases, 4,205 deaths reported in India in 24 hours

Deo called the decrease some degree of success. “The death rate is still stagnant, and we are trying to reduce this. We have to make arrangements for the numbers and not the percentage and that is where our focus is right now. He added they have roped in social workers, NGOs to amplify the call for vaccination and testing. “They are doing their best to spread the word about the symptoms, encouraging people to get tested and countering the misinformation regarding vaccines,” he said.

Deo added it is impossible to build hospitals in each village. “We need to shift patients to dedicated Covid care facilities to save their lives. We have activated lower-level centres for checking and monitoring. Once the symptoms are visible, they would shift the patients to the centres built to cure.”

As many as 1,257 people have died of Covid-19 in the state since May 5.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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