News Analysis India

Tag: COVID cases

  • India records drop in overall Covid cases, but nine states continue to see rise

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has reported a 2.85 per cent drop in Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the country logging 9,355 new cases, as per Union Health Ministry data.

    While nine states, including Kerala, Delhi, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana, have shown a dip in Covid-19 cases, nine other states continue to see a hike in numbers.

    The states that are witnessing a rise in numbers are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa, among others.

    As many as 26 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, with Delhi – which continues to see over 1,000 Covid-19 cases – registering seven deaths due to Covid-19, as per data.

    Kerala reported six reconciled deaths. The other states that reported Covid-10 deaths include Rajasthan (3), Haryana (2) and Punjab (2).

    Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Bihar recorded one death each.

    Though the cases have dipped, nine states are showing a spurt in cases of Covid-19, driven by Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16.

    ALSO READ | ‘Scientists scout for US Covid patient carrying cryptic strain for 2 years’: Reports

    The states that are seeing a jump in number of Covid-19 cases from the previous day are Jammu and Kashmir (48%), Bihar (38%), Jharkhand (29%), Rajasthan (16%), West Bengal (13%) and Maharashtra (9%), said Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst.

    Poll-bound Karnataka is seeing a hike of 35 per cent in Covid-19 cases from the previous day. Punjab and Goa both recorded a six per cent hike in Covid-19 cases, he said.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the beginning of the year. But it warned that the virus was still on the move.

    The WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Covid-19 is here to stay, and the UN agency will publish a guide for countries next week on how to move from an emergency response to the long-term management of Covid-19.

    “We’re very encouraged by the sustained decline in reported deaths from Covid-19, which have dropped 95 per cent since the beginning of this year,” he said.

    “However, some countries are seeing increases and over the past four weeks, 14,000 people lost their lives to this disease. And as the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates the virus is still changing and capable of causing new waves of disease and death.”

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said XBB sub-lineages were now dominant worldwide. They have an increase in growth advantage and are also showing immune escape, meaning people can be re-infected despite having been vaccinated or previously infected.

    NEW DELHI: India has reported a 2.85 per cent drop in Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the country logging 9,355 new cases, as per Union Health Ministry data.

    While nine states, including Kerala, Delhi, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana, have shown a dip in Covid-19 cases, nine other states continue to see a hike in numbers.

    The states that are witnessing a rise in numbers are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa, among others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    As many as 26 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, with Delhi – which continues to see over 1,000 Covid-19 cases – registering seven deaths due to Covid-19, as per data.

    Kerala reported six reconciled deaths. The other states that reported Covid-10 deaths include Rajasthan (3), Haryana (2) and Punjab (2).

    Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Bihar recorded one death each.

    Though the cases have dipped, nine states are showing a spurt in cases of Covid-19, driven by Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16.

    ALSO READ | ‘Scientists scout for US Covid patient carrying cryptic strain for 2 years’: Reports

    The states that are seeing a jump in number of Covid-19 cases from the previous day are Jammu and Kashmir (48%), Bihar (38%), Jharkhand (29%), Rajasthan (16%), West Bengal (13%) and Maharashtra (9%), said Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst.

    Poll-bound Karnataka is seeing a hike of 35 per cent in Covid-19 cases from the previous day. Punjab and Goa both recorded a six per cent hike in Covid-19 cases, he said.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the beginning of the year. But it warned that the virus was still on the move.

    The WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Covid-19 is here to stay, and the UN agency will publish a guide for countries next week on how to move from an emergency response to the long-term management of Covid-19.

    “We’re very encouraged by the sustained decline in reported deaths from Covid-19, which have dropped 95 per cent since the beginning of this year,” he said.

    “However, some countries are seeing increases and over the past four weeks, 14,000 people lost their lives to this disease. And as the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates the virus is still changing and capable of causing new waves of disease and death.”

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said XBB sub-lineages were now dominant worldwide. They have an increase in growth advantage and are also showing immune escape, meaning people can be re-infected despite having been vaccinated or previously infected.

  • 10,112 fresh Covid cases in India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded a single-day rise of 10,112 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases increased to 67,806, according to Union health ministry data.

    With the fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally stands at 4.48 crore (4,48,91,989).

    The death toll climbed to 5,31,329 with 29 fatalities, including seven reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 5.43 per cent.

    At 67,806, the active cases now comprise 0.15 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.66 per cent, according to the health ministry website.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,92,854, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded a single-day rise of 10,112 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases increased to 67,806, according to Union health ministry data.

    With the fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally stands at 4.48 crore (4,48,91,989).

    The death toll climbed to 5,31,329 with 29 fatalities, including seven reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 5.43 per cent.

    At 67,806, the active cases now comprise 0.15 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.66 per cent, according to the health ministry website.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,92,854, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

  • Sixteen more die as Covid cases in India see 38 per cent jump, likely to peak in 10-12 days

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a 38 percent jump in new Covid-19 cases, with 7,830 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours, the highest since September 2 last year.

    As many as 16 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours. There were two deaths each from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. One death each was recorded from Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Five reconciled deaths were reported by Kerala, which is seeing the highest number of Covid deaths and cases in the country.

    On April 11, 5,676 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while the country reported 21 deaths.

    According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 40,215. About 4,42,04,771 people have recovered, with the recovery rate rising to 98.72%. The fatality rate stands at 1.19%, the Union Health Ministry said.

    According to ministry sources, Covid cases may peak in the next 10-12 days and then gradually dip.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield

    The ministry said during the two-day mock drills, they also checked the infrastructure facilities, including isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds, ICUs and ICU-cum ventilators in the country in case of an emergency. A total of 1,070,765 beds are available in the country.  

    According to the health ministry, of 248,683 isolation beds, 218,789 were functional. Of the 335,795 oxygen-supported beds, 304,601 were available, while of the 94,999 ICU beds, 90,785 were found to be functional. The nationwide mock drill held on April 10 and 11 also showed that of the 60,994 ICU-cum-ventilator beds in the country, 54,040 functional beds were available.

    Among logistics, 86 percent of ventilators were found to be functional, while 94 percent of oxygen cylinders were available.

    According to Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst, Delhi (102%), Maharashtra (180%), Uttar Pradesh (128%), Chhattisgarh (184%), Punjab (115%) and Goa (103%) have reported a high number of Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

    Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there had been a steep rise in Covid-19 cases since April, and more patients are being admitted to hospitals now in Kerala. However, severe cases remain rare.

    The current rise in Covid cases is driven by XBB.1.16, a sub-variant of Omicron. Though Covid-19 cases are rising, hospitalisation is low, officials said.

    NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a 38 percent jump in new Covid-19 cases, with 7,830 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours, the highest since September 2 last year.

    As many as 16 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours. There were two deaths each from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. One death each was recorded from Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Five reconciled deaths were reported by Kerala, which is seeing the highest number of Covid deaths and cases in the country.

    On April 11, 5,676 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while the country reported 21 deaths.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 40,215. About 4,42,04,771 people have recovered, with the recovery rate rising to 98.72%. The fatality rate stands at 1.19%, the Union Health Ministry said.

    According to ministry sources, Covid cases may peak in the next 10-12 days and then gradually dip.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield

    The ministry said during the two-day mock drills, they also checked the infrastructure facilities, including isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds, ICUs and ICU-cum ventilators in the country in case of an emergency. A total of 1,070,765 beds are available in the country.  

    According to the health ministry, of 248,683 isolation beds, 218,789 were functional. Of the 335,795 oxygen-supported beds, 304,601 were available, while of the 94,999 ICU beds, 90,785 were found to be functional. The nationwide mock drill held on April 10 and 11 also showed that of the 60,994 ICU-cum-ventilator beds in the country, 54,040 functional beds were available.

    Among logistics, 86 percent of ventilators were found to be functional, while 94 percent of oxygen cylinders were available.

    According to Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst, Delhi (102%), Maharashtra (180%), Uttar Pradesh (128%), Chhattisgarh (184%), Punjab (115%) and Goa (103%) have reported a high number of Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

    Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there had been a steep rise in Covid-19 cases since April, and more patients are being admitted to hospitals now in Kerala. However, severe cases remain rare.

    The current rise in Covid cases is driven by XBB.1.16, a sub-variant of Omicron. Though Covid-19 cases are rising, hospitalisation is low, officials said.

  • Masks back up, booster shots: Centre’s advice amid Covid surge in China

    By Online Desk

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level review meeting with top officials and experts to chalk out strategies to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. This comes after a surge in infections in China.

    Medical experts have predicted that more than 60 per cent of China’s population is likely to be infected in the next three months.

    The secretaries of the departments of health, Ayush, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog VK Paul and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman NL Arora, and other senior officials attended the meeting. 

    After the meeting concluded, Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance.”

    ALSO READ | Covid cases on the rise across China, US warns outbreak is of concern to rest of the world

    The meeting comes a day after the secretary of the Union Health ministry Rajesh Bhushan asked state governments and Union Territories to submit samples of positive cases on a priority basis to the genome sequencing laboratories.

    “ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through…INSACOG (Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium) network,” health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states and UTs.

    “Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” Bhushan wrote.

    Bhushan also highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

    Key points from meeting

    The Centre’s focus will be on blocking the new Covid cases from entering the country. Domestic and international airports are expected to come up with new guidelines for passengers after consultation with Covid experts.

    The health ministry has also directed all states and Union territories to increase the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

    The government has said samples of all Covid positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of Covid in India.

    Indian travellers returning from abroad, the Covid strains currently in the country and prevention protocols for the upcoming New Year celebrations would also be discussed, according to media reports.

    People especially senior citizens have been advised to take booster shots. 

    VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog addresses the media after a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the COVID-19 situation, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, Express)

     

    What changed? 

    According to the Centre, around 35 lakh Covid cases continue to be reported every week globally, however, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group NTAGI, asserted that there is nothing to panic about as the country’s system is “vigilant”.

    The country has reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours — taking the total to 5,30,677. China is reportedly struggling to contain a surge in Covid-related deaths after an abrupt shift from its Zero Covid policy that imposed strict lockdowns and mass testing. 

    ALSO READ | Beijing crematoriums strain under China Covid wave

    The Zero Covid strategy had sparked massive protests after 10 people were killed in an apartment fire, allegedly because fire engines could not effectively fight the flames due to barricading protocol in the area.

    Amid the fears of the Covid outbreak reaching India, Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding Covid norms in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    ALSO READ | China says no new Covid deaths after changing criteria

    Mandaviya said Covid guidelines should be strictly followed during the yatra and the use of masks, and sanitiser is implemented.

    In response to the health minister’s letter, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said that if the government brings any Covid protocols then they will follow them while pointing out that the Parliament session is underway and there are no protocols implemented there either.

    (With inputs from agencies)

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level review meeting with top officials and experts to chalk out strategies to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. This comes after a surge in infections in China.

    Medical experts have predicted that more than 60 per cent of China’s population is likely to be infected in the next three months.

    The secretaries of the departments of health, Ayush, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog VK Paul and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman NL Arora, and other senior officials attended the meeting. 

    After the meeting concluded, Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance.”

    ALSO READ | Covid cases on the rise across China, US warns outbreak is of concern to rest of the world

    The meeting comes a day after the secretary of the Union Health ministry Rajesh Bhushan asked state governments and Union Territories to submit samples of positive cases on a priority basis to the genome sequencing laboratories.

    “ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through…INSACOG (Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium) network,” health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states and UTs.

    “Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” Bhushan wrote.

    Bhushan also highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

    Key points from meeting

    The Centre’s focus will be on blocking the new Covid cases from entering the country. Domestic and international airports are expected to come up with new guidelines for passengers after consultation with Covid experts.

    The health ministry has also directed all states and Union territories to increase the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

    The government has said samples of all Covid positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of Covid in India.

    Indian travellers returning from abroad, the Covid strains currently in the country and prevention protocols for the upcoming New Year celebrations would also be discussed, according to media reports.

    People especially senior citizens have been advised to take booster shots. 

    VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog addresses the media after a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the COVID-19 situation, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, Express)

     

    What changed? 

    According to the Centre, around 35 lakh Covid cases continue to be reported every week globally, however, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group NTAGI, asserted that there is nothing to panic about as the country’s system is “vigilant”.

    The country has reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours — taking the total to 5,30,677. 
    China is reportedly struggling to contain a surge in Covid-related deaths after an abrupt shift from its Zero Covid policy that imposed strict lockdowns and mass testing. 

    ALSO READ | Beijing crematoriums strain under China Covid wave

    The Zero Covid strategy had sparked massive protests after 10 people were killed in an apartment fire, allegedly because fire engines could not effectively fight the flames due to barricading protocol in the area.

    Amid the fears of the Covid outbreak reaching India, Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding Covid norms in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    ALSO READ | China says no new Covid deaths after changing criteria

    Mandaviya said Covid guidelines should be strictly followed during the yatra and the use of masks, and sanitiser is implemented.

    In response to the health minister’s letter, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said that if the government brings any Covid protocols then they will follow them while pointing out that the Parliament session is underway and there are no protocols implemented there either.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Covid-19: XBB and its strains fast emerging as dominant sub-variant in India, Tamil Nadu tops

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Omicron sub-variant XBB, which has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore, and its strains, especially XBB.3, are fast emerging as a dominant sub-variant in India. In India, nine states have reported XBB, and Tamil Nadu tops the list.

    According to data from GISAID, an international research organisation that tracks changes in the virus, 380 XBB confirmed cases had been detected in India till Oct 23.

    Most XBB sub-variant have been detected in Tamil Nadu, where 175 cases have been recorded, followed by West Bengal (103).

    West Bengal was the first state in India, which first detected this most evasive Omicron sub-variant in August. The other states which have confirmed cases of XBB-driven Covid infection are – Odisha (35), Maharashtra (21), Delhi (18), Puducherry (16), Karnataka (9), Gujarat (2) and Rajasthan (1)

    Further, of the 380 sequences, XBB.3 was found to be 68.42 per cent – the highest among all the lineages of XBB, the data showed. XBB.2 was 15 per cent, and XBB.1 was 2.63 per cent.

    “XBB is moving fast in India and is further evolving fast. Out of all its strains, XBB.3 would dominate in India,” Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, who coordinates SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequencing in Maharashtra, told The New Indian Express.

    Among the offshoots of the Omicron variant swarming globally and in India and described as a variant soup, XBB – a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages – is the dominant sub-variant in India so far. 

    ALSO READ | Odisha reports new Omicron sub-variant, first in country

    BQ.1 and other sub-variants are also being detected in India, but not in large numbers. XBB and BQ.1 are both descendants of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

    “It is clear that XBB is a dominant sub-variant now. It has many immune escape mutations; therefore, it has a growth advantage over other sub-variants. Chances are that it could replace BA.2.75, the dominant Omicron sub-variant in India,” Dr Karyakarte said. 

    XBB has been categorised at level 7, meaning it has many mutations, while BQ.1 is level 5. “This means XBB will have more growth advantage over BQ.1 and one which would replace BA.2.75 in India.”

    However, the professor in the microbiology department at BJ Government Medical College in Pune, said clinical studies hadn’t shown any sudden rise in Covid-19 cases or severity.

    “In our clinical study, we didn’t see any severe patients or anyone needing oxygen or found any increase in hospitalisation rates. So far, it hasn’t produced any serious diseases in people,” he added.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said XBB is emerging in India. Most cases are asymptomatic so far. “We need to wait to see whether it would lead to any severity or hospitalisation as is being seen in Singapore,” Dr Yadav said. 

    XBB, being reported mainly from Asian countries like Singapore, Bangladesh and India, is setting off fresh waves of infection, leading to fear that this could usher in another Covid wave. XBB is also being reported from Australia and South Korea too.

    According to a recent article in Nature, XBB looks likely to dominate infections in Asia.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent, and it has been detected in 35 countries. 

    ALSO READ | Covid-19 threat persists as Omicron variants vitiate air

    According to the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), there has been a “broad increase in the prevalence of XBB in regional genomic surveillance”. The technical advisory group met on October 24 to discuss the latest evidence on the Omicron variant of concern and how its evolution is currently unfolding.

    The current data have not suggested substantial differences in disease severity for XBB infections; there is, however, early evidence pointing at a higher reinfection risk as compared to other circulating Omicron sub-lineages, the group noted. 

    The TAG-VE also said that whether the increased immune escape of XBB is sufficient to drive new infection waves appears to depend on the regional immune landscape as affected by the size and timing of previous Omicron waves, as well as the Covid-19 vaccination coverage.

    Highlights

    As per WHO, XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent and it has been detected in 35 countries
    Omicron sub-variant XBB and its strain, especially XBB.3, is fast emerging as the dominant variant in India
    Tamil Nadu records the highest number of XBB cases in India, followed by West Bengal
    XBB has led to a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, Bangladesh and India
    It is also being reported in Australia, South Korea and even from the UK

    NEW DELHI: Omicron sub-variant XBB, which has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore, and its strains, especially XBB.3, are fast emerging as a dominant sub-variant in India. In India, nine states have reported XBB, and Tamil Nadu tops the list.

    According to data from GISAID, an international research organisation that tracks changes in the virus, 380 XBB confirmed cases had been detected in India till Oct 23.

    Most XBB sub-variant have been detected in Tamil Nadu, where 175 cases have been recorded, followed by West Bengal (103).

    West Bengal was the first state in India, which first detected this most evasive Omicron sub-variant in August. The other states which have confirmed cases of XBB-driven Covid infection are – Odisha (35), Maharashtra (21), Delhi (18), Puducherry (16), Karnataka (9), Gujarat (2) and Rajasthan (1)

    Further, of the 380 sequences, XBB.3 was found to be 68.42 per cent – the highest among all the lineages of XBB, the data showed. XBB.2 was 15 per cent, and XBB.1 was 2.63 per cent.

    “XBB is moving fast in India and is further evolving fast. Out of all its strains, XBB.3 would dominate in India,” Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, who coordinates SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequencing in Maharashtra, told The New Indian Express.

    Among the offshoots of the Omicron variant swarming globally and in India and described as a variant soup, XBB – a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages – is the dominant sub-variant in India so far. 

    ALSO READ | Odisha reports new Omicron sub-variant, first in country

    BQ.1 and other sub-variants are also being detected in India, but not in large numbers. XBB and BQ.1 are both descendants of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

    “It is clear that XBB is a dominant sub-variant now. It has many immune escape mutations; therefore, it has a growth advantage over other sub-variants. Chances are that it could replace BA.2.75, the dominant Omicron sub-variant in India,” Dr Karyakarte said. 

    XBB has been categorised at level 7, meaning it has many mutations, while BQ.1 is level 5. “This means XBB will have more growth advantage over BQ.1 and one which would replace BA.2.75 in India.”

    However, the professor in the microbiology department at BJ Government Medical College in Pune, said clinical studies hadn’t shown any sudden rise in Covid-19 cases or severity.

    “In our clinical study, we didn’t see any severe patients or anyone needing oxygen or found any increase in hospitalisation rates. So far, it hasn’t produced any serious diseases in people,” he added.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said XBB is emerging in India. Most cases are asymptomatic so far. “We need to wait to see whether it would lead to any severity or hospitalisation as is being seen in Singapore,” Dr Yadav said. 

    XBB, being reported mainly from Asian countries like Singapore, Bangladesh and India, is setting off fresh waves of infection, leading to fear that this could usher in another Covid wave. XBB is also being reported from Australia and South Korea too.

    According to a recent article in Nature, XBB looks likely to dominate infections in Asia.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent, and it has been detected in 35 countries. 

    ALSO READ | Covid-19 threat persists as Omicron variants vitiate air

    According to the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), there has been a “broad increase in the prevalence of XBB in regional genomic surveillance”. The technical advisory group met on October 24 to discuss the latest evidence on the Omicron variant of concern and how its evolution is currently unfolding.

    The current data have not suggested substantial differences in disease severity for XBB infections; there is, however, early evidence pointing at a higher reinfection risk as compared to other circulating Omicron sub-lineages, the group noted. 

    The TAG-VE also said that whether the increased immune escape of XBB is sufficient to drive new infection waves appears to depend on the regional immune landscape as affected by the size and timing of previous Omicron waves, as well as the Covid-19 vaccination coverage.

    Highlights

    As per WHO, XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent and it has been detected in 35 countries
    Omicron sub-variant XBB and its strain, especially XBB.3, is fast emerging as the dominant variant in India
    Tamil Nadu records the highest number of XBB cases in India, followed by West Bengal
    XBB has led to a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, Bangladesh and India
    It is also being reported in Australia, South Korea and even from the UK

  • Active Covid cases in country decline to 90,707

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 10,256 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 4,43,89,176, while the active cases declined to 90,707, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,556 with 68 fatalities which include 29 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.20 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ | Two new studies bolster theory that coronavirus emerged from Wuhan animal market

    A decline of 3,340 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    India’s COVID-19 tally 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.

    ALSO READ | India records 10,725 new COVID cases; active infections in country decline to 94,047

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crores on May 4 and three crores on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    NEW DELHI: India logged 10,256 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 4,43,89,176, while the active cases declined to 90,707, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,556 with 68 fatalities which include 29 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.20 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ | Two new studies bolster theory that coronavirus emerged from Wuhan animal market

    A decline of 3,340 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    India’s COVID-19 tally 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.

    ALSO READ | India records 10,725 new COVID cases; active infections in country decline to 94,047

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crores on May 4 and three crores on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

  • Active Covid cases in country decline to 1,23,535

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India added 16,561 new coronavirus cases taking the total tally of Covid cases to 4,42,23,557, while the active cases dipped to 1,23,535, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,26,928 with 49 fatalities which include 10 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.28 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.53 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 1,541 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.44 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.88 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,35,73,094, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 207.47 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vccination 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 on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 39 new fatalities include six each from Delhi and Karnataka, five from Maharashtra, four from West Bengal, three each from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, two each from Gujarat, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, and one each from Assam, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Odisha.

    NEW DELHI: India added 16,561 new coronavirus cases taking the total tally of Covid cases to 4,42,23,557, while the active cases dipped to 1,23,535, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,26,928 with 49 fatalities which include 10 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.28 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.53 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 1,541 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.44 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.88 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,35,73,094, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 207.47 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vccination 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 on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 39 new fatalities include six each from Delhi and Karnataka, five from Maharashtra, four from West Bengal, three each from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, two each from Gujarat, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, and one each from Assam, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Odisha.

  • Maharashtra reports 4,004 fresh cases of COVID-19, one death

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Sunday reported 4,004 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 2,087 in Mumbai, and one fatality, taking the tally to 79,35,749 and the toll to 1,47,886, the state health department said. A day earlier the state had reported 3,883 cases and two COVID-19 fatalities.

    Maharashtra is now left with 23,746 active cases after 3,085 patients were discharged on Sunday, taking the tally of recoveries to 77,64,117, the department said in a statement. A total of 41,823 tests were conducted on Sunday, raising the number of samples tested so far in the state to 8,16 03,506.

    The case recovery rate in the state now stands at 97.84 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.86 per cent, it said. The sole COVID-19 fatality in the state was reported from Mumbai which saw 2,087 new cases.

    Mumbai’s overall tally of cases has reached 10,93,722 and the COVID-19 death toll to 19,583. Mumbai division added 3,358 new cases, pushing the tally to 22,84,103. The COVID-19 death toll in the Mumbai division is 39,858.

    Nashik division saw 60 cases, Pune division 408, Kolhapur division 43, Aurangabad division 11, Latur division 13, Akola division 24, and Nagpur division 87. The tally of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra is as follows: Positive cases 79,35,749, deaths 1,47,886, recoveries 77,64,117, active cases 23,746, total tests 8,16,03,506, tests today 41,823.

  • Surge in Covid cases localised, government studying impact of BA.4, BA.5

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India is seeing a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in some states – mainly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka – but the spike seems to be localised. 

    According to Dr N K Arora, who heads the Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group of Immunisation (NTAGI), the people who were not tested positive during the third wave propelled by the Omicron variant, are now getting the infection.

    “The spike looks more like a localised spread that was seen earlier in Delhi in April. Most people getting infected now are over-protected, living in a high-rise, and are relatively better-off,” he told TNIE. He said even children testing positive for Covid-19 belong to high-end better-off schools.

    “People who were relatively well-protected during the third wave are now getting Covid,” he added. He said a similar spike in Covid numbers was seen in Delhi and the NCR region in April when schools opened, and restrictions were lifted. “We can’t say that there is a wave,” he added.

    According to the Union Health Ministry data, India on Monday logged 4,518 new coronavirus infections and nine deaths. The nine deaths were reported from Kerala (4), Uttar Pradesh (2) and one each from Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal.

    As Covid cases saw a surge in some states, the Centre sent a letter to five states – Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu – and advised them to follow a five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and follow appropriate Covid-19 behaviour.

    The Union Health Ministry has said that these states are “reporting a higher contribution to India’s cases.”

    Officials said that as INSACOG in its report had detected BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Covid-19 in India, they are studying whether the virus spread in some of the states is due to these two variants.

    The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), in its report, confirmed the presence of Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Tamil Nadu has already detected BA.4, and BA.5 variants in 12 samples sent for genome sequencing out of 150.

    They are also studying whether the two variants are causing severe symptoms and hospitalisation to the infected person. So far, most of the people detected with these two variants have recovered and showed mild symptoms. Also, it has been found that those infected in recent weeks were all vaccinated. 

  • India reports 1,778 fresh cases of COVID-19, 62 deaths recorded

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 1,778 new coronavirus infections, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,30,12,749, while the number of active cases declined by over 800 to 23,087, according to the government data updated on Wednesday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,16,605 with 62 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases constitute 0.05 per cent of the total infections, while the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.75 per cent, the health ministry said.

    A reduction of 826 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.26 per cent and weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.36 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    The latest 24 hours saw a total of 6,77,218 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far cumulatively conducted over 78.42 crore tests. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 4,24,73,057, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent.

    The cumulative doses of in the country so far under the nationwide Covid vaccination drive has exceeded 181.89 crore.