Growth rate of COVID-19 infection slowdown in Chhattisgarh, Punjab and in Odisha. Health ministry said, the country's cumulative positivity rate stands at 7.94 per cent and is on a continuous decline. Chhattisgarh has seen the sharpest fall of infection followed by Punjab and Odisha.

The decline in the positivity rate has demonstrated that the rate of spread of infection is being effectively contained. The higher numbers of testing on a sustained basis have aided in bringing down the positivity rate.

In Odisha, Covid-19 recovery has further increased to 2,46,837. As many as 2,610 patients recovered yesterday and 1,982 fresh cases were reported. The vanishing footprints of the virus is evident from the fact that as many as 26 districts out of 30 have reported cases below one hundred.

In Punjab, the government schools opened since yesterday for 9 to 12 class students. The class rooms were sanitized before opening the schools and students were allowed to enter the school after thermal scanning at the entry gate. Sanitizing, wearing of mask and social distancing in class rooms have been made mandatory as per guidelines of health department.

The higher testing across wide regions leads to early identification of positive cases, prompt tracking through efficient surveillance and tracing, and timely and effective treatment in homes and hospitals for the severe cases. It said, these measures in tandem eventually lead to lower mortality rate.