CHENNAI: The weekly average Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) for Chennai dropped below 2% on Monday, official data from Greater Chennai Corporation revealed.
TPR is the number of people testing positive for every 100 tests conducted.
Chennai’s weekly average TPR was at 10% for May 25-31 and spiked to 23.13% for May 7-12.
Latest data showed that the weekly average TPR for June 15-21 was 1.91%.
The last time the average TPR was less than 2% was during the week of March 2-8, when it was at 1.92%.
However, the civic body was conducting an average of 10,000-12,000 tests a day at the time, while it conducts 30,000 tests a day at present.
The TPR increased steadily through March and rapidly through April, along with an increase in testing.
Corporation sources said the civic body will continue to test as many as 28,000-30,000 people every day though the number of cases has declined.
Corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi on Tuesday instructed zonal officials to ensure that contact tracing is improved.
“At the height of the second wave, contact tracing was difficult and maximum of seven to eight contacts per index case were being traced.
Since the number of cases has reduced, the commisioner said at least 10-15 contacts per index case can and should be traced now,” an official said.
This would also ensure that RT-PCR tests are not conducted at random, but systematically used for those who emerge as contacts of a Covid positive patient and hence help prevent the spread of the virus.
The corporation said it imposed a total fine of ₹10,520 on the owners of four marriage halls for not ensuring masking and distancing.
About 340 owners registered events at marriage halls in the city so far and such places are inspected by zonal level officials to ensure proper implementation of standard operating procedure .