Active Covid-19 cases/million population in Maharashtra lower than 8 states

PUNE: Maharashtra’s active cases per million population is now lower than at least eight states in India, fresh data from the state public health department revealed.


The state’s active cases per million population as on November 9 were 105, lower than Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Mizoram, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya, the data stated.

Maharashtra’s additional chief secretary (health) Dr Pradeep Vyas said, “Though Maharashtra has the second highest active cases in India in terms of absolute numbers, its actual disease burden is much lower than several other states if the number of Covid-19 cases are calculated per million population.”

A senior official with the state health department told TOI that calculating the number of Covid-19 cases per million population is the scientific way to compare state-wise burden of any disease, because different states have different population sizes. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India after Uttar Pradesh.

“Absolute Covid-19 cases in various states cannot convey the real picture of the disease burden in a region. Hence the per million population method is used. For instance, if 50 are infected in a population of 100 people in a state, the attack rate is 50% there. Similarly, if 20 out of 100 are infected in another state, the attack rate is 20% there,” the official said.

Health department data showed that Maharashtra’s active cases per million population have also dropped lower than the national average of 116.

As on October 26, Maharashtra’s active cases per million residents was 181, which was higher than the national average 135. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana then had lower active cases per million population in comparison to Maharashtra.

State Covid-19 Task Force member Dr Shashank Joshi told TOI, “In the past, Maharashtra did have the second highest active Covid-19 cases per million population among other states, but the situation improved with a consistent drop in new Covid-19 cases. However, a word of caution: states such as Maharashtra and Kerala should not reduce their testing. Testing has gone down in both the states, which should be addressed as soon as possible. We may see a post-festive spike, thus the state needs to be vigilant.”