News Analysis India

Tag: covid-19

  • WHO urges Southeast Asia to scale up Covid vaccination; praises India’s vax drive

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As Covid-19 cases are seeing a spike in India and other Southeast Asian countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday called on them to accelerate Covid-19 vaccination coverage.

    The world health body also acknowledged India’s impressive efforts and its support to other countries in providing Covid vaccines when there was a constraint globally.

    WHO said India would soon mark 2 billion doses, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all vaccine doses administered in the region.

    It said that while significant progress has been made in the region towards vaccinating populations against Covid-19, several countries missed the global target to fully vaccinate 70 percent of their total population with all primary vaccine doses by June end, responsible for various regions witnessing a surge in cases.

    “We know that the current Covid-19 vaccines provide high levels of protection against severe disease and death for all variants. We must focus on rapidly achieving high vaccination coverage, prioritising health workers, older adults, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women,” said Regional Director, WHO (South-East Asia), Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh. 

    The pandemic is not over yet; we must scale up our efforts to protect communities, she said.

    She congratulated countries that have achieved the target of 70 per cent of their population completing the primary series of Covid-19 vaccination.

    Bhutan has 89 per cent of the population vaccinated with all primary doses, Thailand 79.9 per cent, Maldives 70.4 per cent, and Bangladesh 70.2 per cent. Nepal’s 69.3 per cent is close to achieving the global vaccination goal by June end. 

    “India, which will soon mark 2 billion COVID-19 doses, accounts for nearly two-thirds of all Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the Region,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said, adding that, “We must acknowledge India’s impressive efforts and its support to other countries in providing Covid-19 vaccines when vaccine supplies were a constraint globally.”

    The regional director said many deaths from Covid-19 can be avoided if vaccinations specifically target groups such as healthcare and other frontline workers, the elderly and those with comorbidities.

    The WHO Southeast Asia Region has 64.1 percent population who have completed their Covid-19 primary vaccination series and 71.7 percent population who have taken at least one dose of the vaccine while being home to a quarter of the world’s population with over 2 billion people.

  • 14 states reporting spike in Covid-19 cases asked to be on alert by Centre

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As 14 states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana, are reporting a spike in Covid-19 cases on a weekly basis, along with a high positivity rate, conducting less testing and below-average vaccination,  the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday advised them to continue to be alert and step-up their vigil. 

    In the virtual review meeting, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan strongly advised them to monitor the epidemiological profile of admitted Covid-19 patients strictly and report the clinical manifestation to the ministry, rather than random or anecdotal reporting, a statement issued said. 

    “This will help to identify at an early stage any out-of-the-ordinary or different clinical presentation of the patients,” it added. 

    Noting that the uptake in second and precaution doses in many states reporting the present surge was low, they were advised to rapidly accelerate the vaccination coverage, especially for the elderly population, and second dose among the 12-17 age group.

    Underscoring that there was no shortage of Covid-19 vaccines, states were advised to ensure that vaccines that expire first are administered first to prevent any wastage.

    Since June 1, many states, which have now expanded to 14, have been reporting a spike in Covid cases. The other states that were part of the virtual meet included Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

    In the meeting, the low level of Covid-19 testing was highlighted as also the drop in RTPCR share. 

    Instead of a thin and broad testing spectrum, states were advised to focus on strategic testing of patients coming to fever clinics and patients of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) along with new clusters and geographies in all districts reporting higher positivity, the statement said.

    The health secretary also urged states to ensure that claims under ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19′ were expeditiously processed to ensure that insurance dues are paid to those public healthcare providers, including community health workers, who have died due to Covid. 

    In the meeting, Dr Vinod Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, advised the states to watch the emerging pandemic situation. 

     “Routine surveillance constitutes the steel frame of our Covid response and management strategy and needs continuous and unstinted attention,” he said.

  • India records 17,073 new Covid cases, 21 deaths; daily positivity rate 5.62 per cent

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections, raising its tally to 4,34,07,046, while the daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after over four months, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,25,020 with 21 fresh fatalities, data updated at 8 am by the ministry stated. The active cases increased to 94,420, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.57 per cent, the ministry said. An increase of 1,844 cases was recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours, as per the data.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.62 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 3.39 per cent, it stated. The daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after a gap of 139 days.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,87,606, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 197.11 crore doses of vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23 and four crore cases on January 25 this year.

    The 21 new fatalities include six from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, two each from Goa and Punjab and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, the data stated.

  • Take precautionary dose of Covid vaccine on time: PM Modi to people

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to ensure that they along with their family members, especially the elderly, get the precautionary dose of the vaccine against coronavirus on time and take necessary precautions like hand hygiene and masks.

    In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi also said that it is a matter of satisfaction that today the country has a comprehensive protective shield of vaccines.

    “We have reached close to 200 crore vaccine doses. The precaution dose is also being rapidly administered in the country,” he noted.

    “If it is time for a precaution dose after your second dose, then you must take this third dose. Make your family members, especially the elderly, take a precautionary dose. We also have to take necessary precautions like hand hygiene and masks,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also called on people to be alert to diseases caused by the surrounding filth during the rainy season.

    “All of you stay alert, stay healthy and keep moving forward with similar positive energy,” he said in his radio broadcast.

    The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 197 crore on Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

    India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.

    The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause, making all people aged above 60 eligible for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine. India on April 10 began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years.

  • Maharashtra Governor discharged from hospital after COVID-19 recovery

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was discharged from a hospital here on Sunday after recovering from COVID-19, authorities said.

    Koshyari, 80, was admitted to the private hospital in south Mumbai on Wednesday after testing positive for the infection.

    A statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said the governor returned to his official residence after remaining hospitalised for four days.

    In a tweet on Wednesday, the governor had said, “I have tested positive for COVID-19. There are only mild symptoms. However I have been admitted to a Hospital as a precautionary measure.” A day before that, Shiv Sena’s cabinet minister Eknath Shinde had launched a rebellion against his own party, setting off hectic political activities in the state.

    Majority of the Sena legislators have supported Shinde and joined him in Guwahati, where all of them are currently camping.

    Their rebellion has pushed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government headed by Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to the brink of collapse. NCP and Congress are also part of the ruling combine.

  • Covid: Rise, fall in cases ‘common’ when disease transitions to endemic phase, say experts

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rise and fall in cases from time to time is a common phenomenon when an infectious disease transitions from pandemic to endemic phase, experts said on Friday as India witnesses an upward trend in Covid infections.

    Underlining the current rise in coronavirus cases is so far limited to certain districts of the country, they said not wearing masks, increased travel and social interactions and low uptake of booster doses of Covid vaccine could possibly be behind the increase.

    Dr Sanjay Rai, a senior epidemiologist at AIIMS, said SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus which has already seen over 1,000 mutations even though the number of variants of concern are only five.

    Even in the case of Omicron variant, mutations happened in the receptor binding domain which increased the chances of reinfection and breakthrough infections, he said.

    ALSO READ: India records 15,940 Covid infections, 20 fatalities in a day

    The trend of cases rising repeatedly is a “common phenomenon” when a disease transitions from pandemic to endemic phase, said Dr Rai who is also the principal investigator of Covaxin trials for both adults and children at AIIMS.

    As long as there is no increase in severity or dramatic changes in hospitalisation and death numbers, sheer increase of cases is not a cause of concern, he said.

    Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Gujarat, Goa and Punjab have been recording an increase in weekly cases and positivity since June 10.

    According to official sources, 51 districts in India, including 12 from Kerala, seven from Mizoram and five each from Maharashtra and Assam, are reporting a weekly Covid positivity rate of over 10 per cent.

    ALSO READ: Vaccine prevented 42 lakh Covid deaths in India in 2021, shows study

    In 53 districts, including 10 from Rajasthan and five from Delhi, the weekly positivity is between five and 10 per cent, they said.

    “India witnessed a very devastating second wave of Covid infections last year which was very unfortunate. But it has led to development of a community level natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

    “Global evidence show that natural infection provides better and longer protection against COVID-19. Also, there has been a high vaccination coverage. Hence, a severe wave in the future is unlikely until a new mutant variant is capable of invading the existing natural immunity and causing severe disease,” Dr Rai added.

    Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases physician, said SARS-CoV-2 is as much around as it was a few months ago.

    “Therefore, a rise and fall in the number of infections from time to time is very much expected because that is how infectious and respiratory disease behave. Which is why every rise in cases is not a reason of concern or worry,” he said.

    Also, a large proportion of India’s adult population has received two shots of COVID-19 vaccines and a majority in all age groups are estimated to have developed immunity after natural infection, Dr Lahariya said.

    So, people have developed hybrid immunity which provides protection from subsequent infections resulting in symptomatic diseases, he explained.

    “Moreover, 27 months into the pandemic, tracking daily new cases is not a good parameter to assess the spread. It simply reflects that the virus is around and we already know that.

    “Now is the time to track Covid-related hospitalisations and severe clinical outcome. If these parameters do not change drastically, there is no need to worry,” Dr Lahariya said.

    He said that whether Covid has become endemic or is still pandemic is of limited practical relevance. “However, it is fair to conclude that COVID-19 is not a population level challenge anymore, it is more of an individual risk now. Therefore, government interventions should be more targeted at vulnerable people. It is time individuals assess their risk and determine what Covid appropriate behaviour they wish to adopt,” he said.

    Dr Samiran Panda, Additional Director General at ICMR, said these spike in cases remain restricted to certain pockets in districts and cannot be seen as a general rise in infections for the entire district or state. “These occasional localised upward trend fortunately are not associated with severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths.

    However, use of masks would offer protection not only against Covid but also from other diseases such as tuberculosis as well as air pollution,” Dr Panda said.

  • Covid vax prevented over 42 lakh deaths in India: Lancet

    Further 599,300 lives could have been saved if the World Health Organization's target of vaccinating 40 per cent of the population in each country with two or more doses by end of 2021 had been met.

  • India sees 12,899 fresh COVID-19 cases with 15 new fatalities

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded 12,899 fresh COVID-19 cases that pushed its infection tally to 4,32,96,692, while the number of active cases increased to 72,474, according to Union health ministry data.

    The death toll climbed to 5,24,855 with 15 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.17 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.62 per cent, the health ministry said.

    An increase of 4,366 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.89 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ: States, UTs asked to submit ‘larger number’ of samples for whole-genome sequencing

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,99,363. The case fatality rate stood at 1.21 per cent, it said. According to the ministry, 196.14 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the country under the nationwide inoculation drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the 1-crore mark on December 19.

    ALSO READ: Free COVID vaccine booster jabs in private hospitals across Tamil Nadu soon

    India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4, 3 crore on June 23 and 4 crore on January 25 this year.

  • India records 13,216 fresh COVID-19 cases

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 tally increased to 4,32,83,793 on Saturday as 13,216 more people tested positive for the viral disease and the active caseload climbed to 68,108, according to Union health ministry data.

    This is the first time in 113 days that India has recorded over 13,000 cases. The death toll increased to 5,24,840 with 23 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.16 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.63 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 5,045 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.73 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.47 per cent, the ministry said.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,90,845. The case fatality rate stood at 1.21 per cent, it said. The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide inoculation drive have exceeded 196 crore.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4, 3 crore on June 23 and 4 crore on January 25 this year.

  • 25 per cent rise in mental disorders in 1st Covid year, says WHO

    Express News Service

    BENGALURU:  Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25 per cent globally in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, says WHO in the latest mental health report released on Friday. In its largest review of global mental health since the turn of the century, the World Health Organization termed the Covid-19 pandemic as “one of the biggest global crises in generations that has had severe and far-reaching repercussions for health systems, economies and societies”.

    “Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25 per cent in the first year of the pandemic alone. Young people, women and people already suffering mental health issues were harder hit by the pandemic and the restrictions that followed,” the report says.

    The world health body has called upon all nations to destigmatise and invest more in mental health, stating that the pandemic had caused a “sharp rise in issues across the world”. The findings are an eye-opener for all stakeholders with the world body emphasising that there is no health without mental health. 

    “Nearly a billion people or one in 8 people worldwide, were living with mental health problems in 2019. Those living in conflict zones were affected even more, with one in five suffering from mental health issues. These included 14 per cent of the world’s adolescents.  Suicide accounted for more than 1 in 100 deaths and 58 per cent of suicides occurred before age 50,” the report says. 

    It further says childhood sexual abuse and bullying victimisation are major causes of depression. “Social and economic inequalities, public health emergencies, war, and the climate crisis are among the global, structural threats to mental health.”

    While the awareness on mental health has increased, government spending has not. “Only 2 per cent of national health budgets and less than 1 per cent of all international health aid goes to mental health,” the report says.

    Mark van Ommeren of the WHO’s mental health unit says interest in mental health right now is at an all-time high. “But the investment in mental health has not gone up. This report gives countries information on how to invest their mental health money better.” The report has given country-specific case studies on conventional/non-conventional and community interventions in mental health issues.

    Emphasising that ‘no health without mental health’The world health body has called on all nations to destigmatise and invest more in mental health.  The findings are an eye-opener for all stakeholders with the world body emphasising that there is no health without mental health