Centre has raised concern over an increase in R factor of Covid-19 in India. It urged the states to practice caution. R factor refers to the reproduction rate which denotes the number of people getting infected by one infected person.
If the value of the R factor is above 1, it means that one infected person can spread the infection to more than one person.
As per the health ministry this establishes that the infection is spreading. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday wrote to all states and UTs. He also pointed out how an increase in the R factor in some states is a matter of concern.
“You may be aware that any increase in R factor above 1.0 is an indicator of spread of Covid-19. Therefore, it is important that the authorities concerned shall be made responsible for ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour in all crowded places…,” the letter says.
Kerala and northeast states have an increased R factor. As per a PTI report, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai has come up with a study on this R factor and found that Kerala, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura are an increase in this factor.
As per this study, the R-value was 1.37 between March 9 and April 21. Between April 24 and May 1, it was 1.18. It was decreasing then.
Moreover, as per this institute Kerala has an R-value of 1.10. The R-value in Manipur is 1.07, Meghalaya 0.92, Tripura 1.15, Mizoram 0.86m Arunachal Pradesh 1.14, Sikkim 0.88, and Assam 0.86.
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