Some districts in the state reporting higher than average Covid positivity rates are coming up short in contact tracing for every confirmed case.
Maharashtra currently traces an average of 16 persons for every patient. But some key districts and regions — including Pune, Nagpur, Ahmednagar and Kolhapur which have higher positivity rates than the state average of 4.5% — are doing less. In Pune district, for example, authorities track an average of just 13 close contacts per case
State health minister Rajesh Tope has said contact tracing — of high and low-risk contacts — should be above 20.
Officials from the public health department said they have asked all local authorities to step up surveillance, given the threat from the Delta variant, which is proving more infectious.
The Centre, too, had called for adequate tracing, testing and isolation. “Increasing tracing of both high-risk and low-risk contacts is very important. There should not be any setback in the numbers being traced,” said a health ministry official.
According to data shared by the state public health department, only Thane and Latur are currently tracing a good number of contacts, at an average of 23 and 46 persons (the highest), respectively.
The health department’s data shows most state districts are tracing fewer than the average of 16 close contacts per patient --- 6 high risk and 10 low risk. Officials said the ideal number should be more than 20, to ensure clusters are stopped from forming.
State task force members said tracking and testing of contacts is vital for Covid containment. “Contact tracing should be enhanced to 1:30 and 1:50. The current numbers are very poor. We cannot be lethargic on this front,” said task force member Dr Shashank Joshi.
Members said examples such as Kolhapur, with a high positivity rate despite increased vaccination coverage, mean authorities have to watch out for breakthrough infections — Covid after inoculation.
