Odisha,Punjab,Jharkhand,Chhattisgarh and a few smaller states like Goa and the Union territory of J&K are emerging as new Covid-19 hotspots with positivity rates,or total cases per 100 tests,more than doubling in the last month even as there is some moderation in incidence of the disease in badly affected states like Delhi,Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka,West Bengal and Odisha had a positivity rate of 5% and above,measured between june 19 to july 2.In the period between  May 19 and June 1,Karnataka’s positivity rate was 1.3%,West Bengal’s 2.5% and Odisha’s 2%.Goa saw its positivity rate rise from 0.2% during May 19 june 1 to 3.6% during june 19 july2.(A14-day period as per WHO helps judge progress in Covid-19 control and a positivity rate above 5% is enough to be categorised as red zone)

These states may not have raised eyebrows so far as they have added a very insignifact number to India’s overall tally of 7 lakh coronavirus cases,but the steady rise in confirmed cases and an upward curve pose a serious concern as emerging hotspots,given the nature of the disease,can rapidly escalate.So far,Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu,Delhi and Gujarat have together added over 4.5 lakh cases,accounting for 65% of the total cases reported in the country as of july 6.