A healthworker takes swab sample of a passenger for Covid-19 test, at Dakhinpat Ghat on the bank of the river Brahmaputra in Majuli district of Assam.

Even as India has reduced its active Covid-19 caseload by over 3.5 lakh over five days (May 12-17), the Northeastern states are showing a clear spike in Covid-19 cases.

India has reduced its active Covid-19 caseload by over 3.5 lakh over five days (May 12-17). Still, the number of active Covid-19 cases, as of Monday, stood at around 33.5 lakh in India. The test positivity ratio has also declined in the past one week, staying below 20 per cent, which, however, is still precariously high.

Most Covid-19 epicentre states have shown signs of retreat or plateauing of the second wave of coronavirus pandemic. However, the Northeastern states are showing a clear spike in Covid-19 cases. These are small numbers, but the spike is sharp compared to the previous pattern of Covid-19 spread in the region.