Overall COVID-19 pandemic scenario is optimistic: Govt 
Key Highlights
- 69% of adolescents aged 15-18 yrs have been administered 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine: Govt
- 4,355 Indian expatriates died due to COVID-19 in 88 countries
- Early decline in COVID-19 cases noted globally: Health Ministry
New Delhi: The Union health ministry on Thursday stressed that the overall COVID-19 pandemic scenario is optimistic and its contraction is consistent. The government, however, cautioned people and said that they should be vigilant and COVID appropriate behaviour has to be taken as new normal even though the infections are declining.
The governmnet informed that nearly 40 districts are still reporting an increase in weekly cases and COVID-19 positivity rate.
The government stated that currently, 141 districts have a COVID-19 positivity rate of over 10 per cent, 160 districts have a positivity rate between 5-10 per cent.
In a huge sigh of relief, teh governmnet informed that a decline in COVID-19 infections and positivity rate across all states have been noted.
Addressing the government’s press briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country, Luv Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry stated that Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have more than 50,000 active cases of COVID-19 whereas 11 other states have active cases between 10,000 and 50,000.
On January 24, 2022 the daily positivity rate was recorded at 20.75 per cent, which has now decreased to 4.44 per cent. It indicates that now the rate of infection spread has come down significantly, Agarwal said.
Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog, addressing the same press conference, said that some states, including Kerala, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh are still reporting a large number of coronavirus and stressed that “we cannot lower our guard”.
Dr Paul stressed said that the international community should unitedly fight coronavirus.
“We have learned a great deal about this pandemic and the virus, but the world doesn’t know everything about this virus. The world should remain united to fight this virus and should continue to use the tools that are at our disposal,” the Niti Aayog member said.