In the North East, the pandemic is slowing down – but at a rate slower than the rest of India
Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim are reporting high test positivity rates. Covid-19 testing facility in Charangpat Mamang village in Thoubal district in Manipur. | Twitter/ National Health Mission Manipur
Even as the pandemic appears to be rapidly slowing down in most parts of India, the rate of decline in many of the smaller North Eastern states continues to be slow.
In some states such as Sikkim, Manipur and Meghalaya, the decline in the number of active cases has not resulted in the lowering of test positivity rates – the number of positive cases per 100 samples tested – suggesting that chains of transmissions have not been effectively terminated and the drop in absolute numbers is artificial and a result of low testing.