Pune: Restrictions relaxed and positivity rate low, but no dip in Covid deaths in the last 2 months

The Covid positivity rate, however, has been around 3 per cent in the last few weeks, which prompted the administration to relax Covid-related restrictions.

The case fatality rate has, in fact, increased to 1.81 per cent on August 16 from 1.8 per cent on July 16 and 1.79 per cent on June 16.

“The restrictions have been relaxed but local residents need to take care of themselves. The positivity rate has been low but the mortality rate has not reduced,” said a civic health officer.

In the last one month, the city registered 7,375 new patients of Covid-19, nearly 1,000 fewer than the 8,359 residents infected with the virus between June 16 to July 16. The total number of Covid-19 cases in the city so far is 4,90,574 while 4,79,687 have recovered.

Meanwhile, the PMC has relaxed most restrictions and instructed all establishments to strictly abide by Covid-appropriate behaviour to contain the spread of the infection. It has warned that if there is a significant increase in number of cases and hospitalisation of patients, then the restrictions might come back into force.

All the establishments have been urged to ensure that their staff as well as visitors are fully vaccinated. Commercial establishments such as shops, malls, and restaurants have been warned of action if it is found that the staff on duty is not fully vaccinated.

There is complete ban on religious, social and cultural gatherings while weddings have been permitted with a limitation of maximum 100 people in closed halls and 200 people on an open ground. The restrictions on salons, beauty parlours, gyms and indoor sports have been relaxed with permission to operate till 10 pm on certain conditions. The rules to allow entry of residents of other states have also been relaxed with no mandatory RT-PCR test for those fully vaccinated, while others will have to produce a report not older than 72 hours and follow a 14-day quarantine period.