Maharashtra’s covid-19 mortality rate continues to remain high even as national rate reduces

MAHARASHTRA’S COVID-19 MORTALITY RATE CONTINUES TO REMAIN HIGH EVEN AS NATIONAL RATE REDUCES Hindustan Times, Mumbai | BySurendra P Gangan Oct 28, 2020 12:10 PM IST THE CASE FATALITY RATE IN

MAHARASHTRA HAS BEEN HOVERING AT 2.65% FOR THE LAST FOUR WEEKS; WHILE THE NATIONAL RATE CAME DOWN TO 1.5% FROM 1.57% OVER A MONTH While the positivity rate and daily count of Covid-19 cases

is falling steadily, the case fatality rate (CFR) in Maharashtra has been hovering at 2.65% for the last four weeks. The death rate of other states and the nation overall has been steadily

coming down. Maharashtra has witnessed a significant reduction in the daily caseload. The state’s positivity rate in October dropped to 14.20% from over 20% last month. The case fatality

rate of the state has, however, only dropped to 2.63% from 2.65% a month ago on September 27. Meanwhile, the national rate reduced to 1.5% from 1.57% over a month. Gujarat, which has ranked

closer to Maharashtra in mortality rate over the last few months, has been able to reduce its CFR to 2.20% now from 2.57% on September 27. ALSO READ: ‘17% COVID DEATHS LINKED TO POLLUTION’

“We had set the target of bringing the CFR below 1% in the beginning of July and had directed all district authorities accordingly. Despite hard efforts, we have not been able to achieve the

target. Our tracing of contacts is still poor in several districts, besides the inferior quality of the health infrastructure. The machinery has not been able to bring infected people to

health facilities and test them early. Proper tracing and awareness to remove stigma could have helped achieve this,” said an official from the health department, requesting anonymity. The

official added that a few districts like Solapur, Chandrapur have been, however, able to bring down the CFR below 4% from over 6% two months ago. “We have been trying our level best to bring

down the CFR. People report late to health facilities after having developed symptoms leading to the complications. Our My Family My Responsibility drive may help us on that front by

bringing awareness among people. It is true that the daily testing has reduced, but tests are being administered as per the requirement,” said Sanjay Kumar, chief secretary, Maharashtra. Dr

Sanjay Pattiwar, public health consultant, said that the CFR is high also because of the poor facilities in ICUs and shortage of oxygen and ventilators in many districts. “The focus of the

state machinery should now be more on the ICUs than the Covid care centres,” he said. * Maharashtra * Covid-19 Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live

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