Numbers show TN not ready to open up

Numbers show TN not ready to open up

At 19%, State TPR Four Times Higher Than Centre’s Guideline of 5%; Vax Coverage Poor

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

The number of fresh cases of Covid-19 is falling as is the test positivity rate in most districts, but the numbers are nowhere near the levels the Centre has set for opening up.

On Tuesday, the Centre set three guidelines for opening up — average seven-day test positivity rate (TPR) of less than 5%, more than 70% vaccination coverage among the 45-plus age group, and “community ownership of care and Covid-19 appropriate behavior”.

No district in the state has a weekly TPR below 5%. Kancheepuram and Sivaganga have the lowest TPR of between 9.4% and 9.6%, followed by Vellore (11.2%). And public health officials said they will not be able to predict if these rates will fall below 5% by June 7, when the state has to extend or lift lockdown restrictions.

On Wednesday, the state said at least 23 districts have reported a decline in the weekly TPR. For instance, fresh cases in Chengalpet came down to 996 on Wednesday from around 2,600 at the beginning of the lockdown. The TPR that was around 32.4% in this district dropped to 19.9% this week. Similarly, daily fresh cases in Chennai came down from around 7,500 to less than 2,500 and the TPR is now 11.4% compared to 23.3% when the lockdown began. However, the TPR in above the state average of 19% in at least 23 districts.

“Despite aggressive testing and isolation, we don’t know why cases are not coming down in some parts of the state. While we have been able to bring down the positivity rate and infection rate in Chennai and surrounding region, we don’t see similar results in parts of the west or central region,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan. The issue was discussed even at the medical experts meeting with chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday.

Tirupur’s TPR has touched 38.1% compared to 32.8% last week. Despite decrease in cases, Coimbatore is reporting a TPR of 36.6% compared to 30.5% last week. Erode's TPR, which was around 27% last week, is inching close to 30%.

“Test results are delayed and hence isolation is delayed. This is one the main reasons for increase in cases despite lockdown,” said a senior official in Tirupur. Samples from smaller districts are now being sent to nearby districts to expedite results, he said.

Secondly, less than 50% of the healthcare providers in the state and only 31% of frontline workers have taken both doses of the vaccine.

While the state says it can’t measure coverage among people above 45 years (with comorbid conditions), only 20% of people above 60 years have received the first dose and 8% are fully vaccinated. But the vaccination numbers, too , aren't uniform. While Greater Chennai Corporation has said 55% of the above-45 population in the city has been vaccinated, the Nilgiris district announced that at least 60% of the population in the same age group has been vaccinated.