Health Ministry on Thursday said 34 states and UTs in the country are recording a decline in COVID cases and positivity rate. Briefing media in New Delhi, Joint Secretary in the Ministry Lav Agarwal said 16 states and UTs have achieved 100 percent first dose COVID vaccination coverage, and 4 states and UTs between 96 to 99 percent. Meanwhile, Kerala and Mizoram are witnessing an increase in the number of cases and positivity.<br />''<br />''Health Ministry said that the present data indicates that unlike evidence during earlier Covid surge, surgery is safe with the current variant. These patients who need surgery can go for it as the new variant is not associated with higher chances of complications or deaths in COVID positive patients. Government said pandemic situation has improved and there is contraction in spread of Covid infection. Positivity rate is below 5 percent in 268 districts.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Joint Secretary in the Education Ministry also briefed media and said schools have fully opened in 11 states, partially for higher classes in 16 states and are closed in 9 states. 95 percent teaching and non-teaching staff in schools have been vaccinated, and some states have achieved 100 percent vaccination coverage. <br />''<br />''According to the salient features of the revised guidelines for reopening of schools, states will decide whether schools will be required to take consent of students' parents for attending physical classes. Group activities in games and sports may be allowed subject to SOPs of the States and UTs.</span><br />