No Easing Of Curbs In Pune As COVID-19 Positivity Rate Remains High: Ajit Pawar

Pune: Pune and some other districts will not witness immediate relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions as the positivity rates in these areas have not declined much, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.

Speaking to reporters after a COVID-19 review meeting here, Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune, said the government has decided to continue with the level three restrictions in the district. Depending on the severity of the pandemic in an area, the state government has designed five levels of restrictions, with the fifth being the most stringent.

“Positivity rate has come down to zero percent in some districts, however, in some districts like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Raigad and Ahmednagar, the positivity rate has not come down as much as it should have been, hence the existing restrictions are in place. He said that shops in Pune would be allowed to operate only till 4 pm.

“The weekly positivity rate of Pune district is 5.7 percent. The recovery rate is 97.30 percent,” Pawar said.

Asked about the demand for some relaxation from various sectors, he said there should be further reduction in the positivity rate.

“The positivity rate has come down (around five per cent), but the graph has stabilized at one point. According to experts, it should go further down, the way it has come down to zero in some areas. If that happens, we will relax further,” Pawar said.

He said the district administration was increasing the number of hospital beds to prepare for a possible third wave.

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