News Analysis India

Tag: COVID cases

  • India records less than 30,000 fresh COVID-19 cases in over three months

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India recorded less than 30,000 fresh COVID-19 cases after 132 days while its active caseload fell below 4,00,000 after 124 days on Tuesday, according to Union health ministry data.

    India recorded 29,689 new coronavirus infections that pushed its tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,14,40,951 while the death toll climbed to 4,21,382 with 415 daily fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The active cases have declined to 3,98,100 and comprise 1.27 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 97.39 per cent, it stated.

    The number of active cases fell by 13,089 in a span of 24 hours.

    As many as 17,20,110 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Monday, taking the total number of tests conducted so far to 45,91,64,121.

    The daily positivity rate has declined to 1.73 per cent.

    The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.33 per cent, the ministry data stated.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,06,21,469, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent, it said.

    The total number of vaccine doses administered so far has reached 44.19 crore under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 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 and 3 crore on June 23.

  • Preparedness level of Indians to deal with COVID-19 at homes remain abysmally low

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: A year and a half into the pandemic, the preparedness levels of India’s urban poor and rural population remain abysmally low when dealing with Covid-19 infections at the household level with many lacking the basic medical equipment to gauge vital health parameters.

    A survey in ten states of the country by the research organisation Sambodhi Panels, conducted in July 2021, gives new insights into the preparedness of India’s vulnerable sections of society particularly after the raging second wave even as the nation apparently gears-up to meet a distinctly possible third wave.The 7,116 households survey found just around 20 per cent had thermometers and about 50 per cent had over the counter drugs available to treat symptoms like fever, headaches. However, only 9 per cent of the households had Oximeters while a dismal 3 per cent had access to oxygen cylinders.

    Also, only 40 per cent of respondents were aware of medical suppliers/shops nearby to access in case they had the symptoms of coronavirus.

    ALSO READ: Third Covid wave may occur either due to mutations in virus or pool of susceptible population, says CentreThe surveys empanelled over 14,000 households with verified respondent details from different states including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The research panels found that the people are largely uninformed about newer variants of Covid-19 virus and the associated symptoms such as diarrhoea, skin rashes, conjunctivitis among others.“Given how dynamic the course of this pandemic is, we need rapid generation of data insights to meet urgent response needs in crisis situations. Further, we need data collection across time periods to be able to study trends and forecast so as to plan for the future,” said Swapnil Shekhar, co-founder, Sambodhi.The survey did show that awareness about home-care for Covid-19 patients were high among respondents, with 88 per cent of the people able to identify at least one practice such as isolation in a room, wearing a mask, and using separate utensils, towels, bedding for the patients among the measures to be adopted.The respondents, however, lacked proper understanding on when to hospitalise a Covid positive person. This of course has implications for the already stretched healthcare system.Following the extensive surveys, the Sambodhi Panels felt the need to increase information dissemination among vulnerable sections of society on newer Covid variants, associated symptoms and recommended treatment protocols.

  • Covid precautions to medical equipment: Masses remain poorly equipped ahead of third wave, finds Survey

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: A year and a half into the pandemic, the preparedness levels of India’s urban poor and rural population remain abysmally low when dealing with Covid-19 infections at the household level with many lacking the basic medical equipment to gauge vital health parameters.

    A survey in ten states of the country by the research organisation Sambodhi Panels, conducted in July 2021, gives new insights into the preparedness of India’s vulnerable sections of society particularly after the raging second wave even as the nation apparently gears-up to meet a distinctly possible third wave.The 7,116 households survey found just around 20 per cent had thermometers and about 50 per cent had over the counter drugs available to treat symptoms like fever, headaches. However, only 9 per cent of the households had Oximeters while a dismal 3 per cent had access to oxygen cylinders.

    Also, only 40 per cent of respondents were aware of medical suppliers/shops nearby to access in case they had the symptoms of coronavirus.

    ALSO READ: Third Covid wave may occur either due to mutations in virus or pool of susceptible population, says CentreThe surveys empanelled over 14,000 households with verified respondent details from different states including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The research panels found that the people are largely uninformed about newer variants of Covid-19 virus and the associated symptoms such as diarrhoea, skin rashes, conjunctivitis among others.“Given how dynamic the course of this pandemic is, we need rapid generation of data insights to meet urgent response needs in crisis situations. Further, we need data collection across time periods to be able to study trends and forecast so as to plan for the future,” said Swapnil Shekhar, co-founder, Sambodhi.The survey did show that awareness about home-care for Covid-19 patients were high among respondents, with 88 per cent of the people able to identify at least one practice such as isolation in a room, wearing a mask, and using separate utensils, towels, bedding for the patients among the measures to be adopted.The respondents, however, lacked proper understanding on when to hospitalise a Covid positive person. This of course has implications for the already stretched healthcare system.Following the extensive surveys, the Sambodhi Panels felt the need to increase information dissemination among vulnerable sections of society on newer Covid variants, associated symptoms and recommended treatment protocols.

  • Three COVID strains detected among 75 patients in Mizoram

    By PTI
    AIZWAL: At least three different COVID strains have been detected among 75 patients from Mizoram whose samples were randomly selected and sent for whole genome sequencing, a health official said on Thursday.

    Seventy-three cases of India’s highly transmissible Delta variant (B.1.617.2), and one case each of United Kingdom’s Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Eta (B.1.525) strains were found among 100 samples, state nodal officer and official spokesperson on COVID-19, Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma, said.

    The samples were sent for whole genome sequencing to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) in West Bengal’s Kalyani in June, he said.

    “The Mizoram government is making massive efforts to detect other variants in the state. People have to be very cautious and strictly follow the guidelines as different COVID variants may be already present in other parts of the state,” he said.

    Fifty-six of the 73 Delta variant cases were registered in Aizawl, nine in Lunglei, five in Kolasib and three in Serchhip, the official said, adding that both the Alpha and Eta variants were reported in Aizawl.

    Seventy samples from Aizawl, and 10 each from Lunglei, Kolasib and Serchhip districts were collected and sent to NIBMG for genome sequencing last month.

    The patients’ present conditions are yet to be ascertained, he said.

    On June 18, Mizoram had recorded four cases of Delta variants from among 217 samples sent for whole-genome sequencing in April.

    However, all four patients from Aizawl have fully recovered from the disease.

    Pachuau said that 69 samples were sent to NIBMG in March, 217 in April and 100 in June.

    Also, 150 more samples were sent on July 15, and results are awaited, he said.

    Quoting a study, Pachuau said that the Eta variant is more dangerous as 69 percent of the infected patients have been found to require treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

    The mortality rate among patients infected with Delta variant is 0.1 percent, 2 percent for Alpha variant and 2.7 percent for Eta strain, he said.

  • ‘American Horror Story’ pauses production due to positive Covid-19 case

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Production on the tenth season of popular FX show “American Horror Story” has been halted after a cast member tested positive for COVID-19.

    According to Variety, the positive case was in the “Zone A” of COVID-production protocol and was an actor on the show.

    The production suspension is expected to last till the end of the week.

    The news of filming stop on “American Horror Story” follows growing concerns about a rise in COVID cases in the US.

    The anthology show, created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Fulchuk, was originally scheduled to return with its season 10 in 2020 but the production was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Filming finally started in December last year.

    Season 10 of the series, titled “American Horror Story: Double Feature” is set to premier on FX on August 25.

    It will feature returning cast members, including Frances Conroy, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Finn Wittrock with new cast members including Macaulay Culkin, Neal McDonough and Kaia Gerber.

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel shoot paused amid surge in COVID cases in UK

    By PTI
    LONDON: The recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the UK has forced HBO to halt the production of its much-anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon”.

    According to Deadline, the UK shoot of the show has been paused for two days after a positive case in zone A, which includes cast and crew.

    Based on author George R R Martin’s book “Fire & Blood”, “House of Dragons” is set over 300 years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones”.

    It and tells the story of House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war, known as the “Dance of the Dragons.”

    The surge has also led to the cancellation of actor-director Kenneth Branagh’s UK theater production, a revival of “The Browning Version” by Terence Rattigan.

    The play was due to be staged at London’s Riverside Studios in August.

    In a note sent to the ticket holders, the venue said the production was “no longer viable” due to the an “increasing number of Covid-enforced absences” and that refunds would be issued.

    Producers said number of team members tested positive, some of whom were symptomatic, despite COVID-19 protocols being observed.

    Shoot of Netflix’s popular series “Bridgerton” was shut down twice over the weekend because of positive cases on the set.

    The streamer’s feature adaptation of “Matilda” has also halted production due to the virus.

    On Sunday, the UK recorded a further 48,161 coronavirus cases and 25 deaths.

    This followed an excess of 50,000 cases recorded on Friday and Saturday, the highest since mid-January.

  • India records 38,949 fresh Covid cases, 542 deaths

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: India recorded 38,949 new COVID-19 cases, which took the infection tally to 3,10,26,829, while the death toll reached 4,12,531 with 542 more fatalities, according to Union health ministry data updated on Friday.The active cases have declined to 4,30,422 and comprise 1.39 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.28 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.It said that a decrease of 1,619 has been recorded in the number of active cases in a span of 24 hours.The ministry said 19,55,910 tests were conducted on Thursday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 44,00,23,239, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.99 per cent.The positivity rate has been less than three per cent for 25 consecutive days, it said.The weekly positivity rate stands at 2.14 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    38,949 people tested positive for #COVID19 while 542 succumbed to the infection in a single day. pic.twitter.com/uAlF1amgHS
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) July 16, 2021

    The number of people who have recovered from the disease has increased to 3,01,83,876, while the case fatality rate has risen to 1.33 per cent, the data stated.The vaccine doses administered so far has reached 39.53 crore under the nationwide inoculation drive against COVID-19.India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16 last year.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 last year.India crossed two crore cases on May 4 and three crore cases on June 23.The 542 new fatalities included 170 deaths from Maharashtra and 87 from Kerala, the ministry said.In total, 4,12,531 deaths have been reported in the country, including 1,26,560 from Maharashtra, 36,037 from Karnataka, 33,606 from Tamil Nadu, 25,022 from Delhi, 22,705 from Uttar Pradesh, 17,970 from West Bengal and 16,212 from Punjab.The ministry said that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.”Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. 

  • India records 41,806 fresh cases of COVID-19, recovery rate at 97.28 per cent

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India recorded 41,806 new coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,09,87,880, while the active cases increased to 4,32,041, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

    An increase of 2,095 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The active cases comprise 1.39 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.28 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    Also, 19,43,488 tests were conducted on Wednesday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 43,80,11,958, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.15 per cent.

    It has been less than three per cent for 24 consecutive days, the ministry said. The weekly positivity rate stands at 2.21 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,01,43,850, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.39 per cent, the data stated.

    Cumulative vaccine doses administered so far have reached 39.13 crore under the nationwide vaccination drive. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 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 two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

  • India records 38,792 fresh COVID-19 cases, 624 deaths; recovery rate climbs to 97.28 per cent

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India recorded 38,792 new coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,09,46,074, while the death toll reached 4,11,408 with 624 more fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry’s data updated on Wednesday.

    The active cases have declined to 4,29,946 and comprise 1.39 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.28 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    A decrease of 2,832 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    Also, 19,15,501 tests were conducted on Tuesday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 43,59,73,639, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.10 per cent.

    It has been less than three per cent for 23 consecutive days, the ministry said.

    The weekly positivity rate stands at 2.25 per cent, according to the Health Ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,01,04,720, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.33 per cent, the data stated.

    According to the Union Health Ministry, India recorded 38,792 new #COVID19 cases, 41,000 recoveries, and 624 deaths in the last 24 hours.Express Photo | @vinodkumart5 pic.twitter.com/Zv1csllnLs
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) July 14, 2021

    Cumulative vaccine doses administered so far has reached 38.76 crore under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 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 two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

    The 624 new fatalities include 196 deaths from Maharashtra and 124 from Kerala.

    A total of 4,11,408 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 1,26,220 from Maharashtra, 35,944 from Karnataka, 33,502 from Tamil Nadu, 25,020 from Delhi, 22,704 from Uttar Pradesh, 17,944 from West Bengal and 16,199 from Punjab.

    The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

    “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

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  • India likely to add 12.6 lakh Covid cases, Karnataka about 60k by Aug 10

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: India’s Covid-19 count is expected to reach 32.1 million (321 lakh) cases, including an addition of 1.26 million (12.6 lakh) new cases by August 10. The country’s death toll is likely to touch 4.40 lakh.  Karnataka, on its part, is likely to reach a Covid tally of 29.35 lakh cases, with the death toll touching 37,275 fatalities by August 10. These were the figures projected by Jeevan Raksha, an initiative of Proxima Consulting. 

    Mysore Sanjeev, convener of Jeevan Raksha, said the good work done so far by India andKarnataka alike, especially improved containment management, needs to continue. “It is imperative that each district administration ensures that the 7-Day Moving Growth Rate (MGR) of Covid is less than 2 per cent.

    Last week, 14 districts in Karnataka had a 7-Day MGR of less than 1 per cent, 15 districts had MGR of 1-2%. Only Kodagu has a marginally higher MGR of  3%, which is likely to reduce in the coming week. If all districts ensure a 7-Day MGR of less than 2% until 80% of the state population is fully vaccinated, Karnataka can undoubtedly avoid the third wave,” Sanjeev opined. 

    He advised that micro containment zones, making RT-PCR testing available in  villages, and testing the right kind of people, instead of random Rapid Antigen Tests, should be followed. The current testing figures should be maintained but there needs to be a rationale behind who is being tested and why so many people are being tested.  

    As per the projection, Maharashtra will touch a tally of 63.65 lakh by August 10, followed by Kerala with 35.3 lakh patients. Third in line is Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu with 26 lakh cases. Meanwhile, with respect to fatalities, Maharashtra’s death toll is expected to touch 1,43,425, followed by Karnataka with 37,275, Tamil Nadu with 34,700 and Kerala with 18,775.