News Analysis India

Tag: COVID cases

  • India reports 1.86 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases within 24 hours, lowest in 44 days

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The single day rise in coronavirus cases in India fell below the 2-lakh mark for the second time this month, while the recoveries continue to outnumber daily cases for the 15th consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    A total of 1,86,364 new coronavirus infections were reported in a day, the lowest in around 44 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,75,55,457. The death toll climbed to 3,18,895 with 3,660 daily deaths, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The daily COVID-19 count in India last fell below the 2-lakh mark on May 25. Also, 20,70,508 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 33,90,39,861.

    The daily positivity rate has declined to 9 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for four consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has further declined to 10.42 per cent. It said that recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 15th consecutive day.

    India’s #COVID19 tally stands at 2,75,55,457 and the death toll has touched 3,18,895 while active cases in the country is at 23,43,152: Union Health Ministry.Express Photo | @meetsenbaga pic.twitter.com/y4UtlmgWM3
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) May 28, 2021

    The active cases have further reduced to 23,43,152 comprising 8.50 per cent of the total infections with a net decline of 76,755 cases in the active caseload in 24 hours, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 90.34 per cent.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,48,93,410 and the case fatality rate has increased to 1.16 per cent, the data stated. 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.

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    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.

    The 3,660 new fatalities include 884 from Maharashtra, 476 from Karnataka, 474 from Tamil Nadu, 187 from Uttar Pradesh, 181 from Kerala, 177 from Punjab, 148 from West Bengal, 117 from Delhi and 104 from Andhra Pradesh.

    A total of 3,18,895 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 92,225 from Maharashtra, 27,405 from Karnataka, 23,812 from Delhi, 22,289 from Tamil Nadu, 19,899 from Uttar Pradesh, 14,975 from West Bengal, 14,004 from Punjab and 12,848 from Chhattisgarh.

    The 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.

    The ministry also said that cumulatively 20.57 crore number of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country. India is the second country after the US to achieve the vaccination landmark of 20 crore.

  • ‘It will turn into a superspreader’: Punjab CM urges BKU to call off dharna in Patiala amid Covid surge

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has urged Bhartiya Kisan Union to not act irresponsibly after the farmers outfit of the state, Ekta Ugrahan, has announced a three-day dharna in Patiala, the CM’s home town. 

    The CM said that the dharna will jeopardise the lives of their own people if such reckless behaviour is shown amid the pandemic and the event could turn into a super spreader. 

    Amarinder said his government had fought hard to prevent Punjab going the way of some other states, such as Delhi, Maharashtra and even Uttar Pradesh (where bodies floating in the Ganga river had exposed the total pandemic mismanagement by the BJP-ruled states.) 

    Such events had the potential to negate the gains made by his government in tackling Covid in the state, he said.

    He urged the farmers’ group to not gather especially when the government has banned these events

    Such a dharna would draw people mainly from the villages, which were in any case going through a crisis during the second wave of the pandemic, he pointed out.

    The group’s action was also completely unwarranted considering the total support the state government had extended all these months to the agitating farmers on the issue of the Centre’s black Farm Laws, said Amarinder. His government was the first to pass the amendment laws in the state Assembly to contravene the Farm Laws, he pointed out. “It is time for the farmers to reciprocate by supporting the state government in the fight against the pandemic,” he said.

    Pointing out that even during the peak of the second Covid surge in Punjab, things had not gone out of control here as they had in several other states, he said the state had been one of the best performing so far in terms of pandemic management. 

    There were no widespread shortages of Oxygen in hospitals despite shortfall in supply, as the state government had ensured judicious management of the critical commodity, he noted, adding that even availability of medications and beds had been continuously ramped up to keep pace with the spiralling cases. This, he pointed out, was in sharp contrast to states like Delhi, Maharashtra and UP.

  • Mahakumbh, now Char Dham, why embarrass ourselves?, Uttarakhand HC slams govt’s carelessness; CJ questions Centre’s ‘callous attitude’

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday commenting on Mahakumbh and Char Dham Yatra said that the government is causing embarrassment to its own people and questioned why the State cannot learn from its mistakes. 

    The bench comprising Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma remarked, “First we make the mistake of Kumbh Mela, then there is Char Dham. Why do we repeatedly cause embarrassment to ourselves?” 

    The CJ revealing that he has been receiving vedios of sanctum sanctorum of the four shrines- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri crowded with people, remarked, “At least I feel embarrassed when my colleagues start calling me up and say what is happening to your state. I have no explanation because naturally I am not a decision maker. But I am surprised those of you who are decision makers are leaving it so carelessly as if it doesn’t bother anyone’s conscience anymore.”  

    The bench irked by videos and pictures of Char Dham circulating on various social media platforms also questioned, “Anyone is supervising (Char Dham Yatra) or is it left to the priests? What happens if coronavirus spreads among the priests? Even when deity is being worshiped, you can’t permit twenty priests in a small size of space such as sanctum sanctorum.”

    It is to be noted that Char Dham Yatra is suspended this year but rituals are to be continued to uphold tradition without visit of any pilgrims to all four shrines- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. 

    After Dilip Jawalkar, secretary tourism, Uttarakhand told the bench that for each place of worship there are guidelines in place, the court said, “No one is following your guidelines. Please take a chopper to Char Cham, you will find what the reality is. Please take next chopper to Kedarnath and see for yourself.” 

    The Court added that the government should be asking questions to violators instead of the court intervening in the matter. 

    “With all those videos available on social media, you yourself should be asking these questions instead of court. You are issuing orders on paper which no one is implementing,” the CJ added. 

    “I am sorry to say, we caused embarrassment to ourselves then the rest of the country is saying what in the world is Uttarakhand doing. Can’t Uttarakhand learn from its own mistake? You can fool the Court, but you cannot fool the people. Everyone can see the reality which exists out there. You are playing with the lives of millions of people in the country,” the CJ further remarked.

    The bench in the presence of officials from the state and the centre underlining the lurking threat of the third wave if situation is allowed to go out of hand like in Mahakumbh further added, “Sir, we are accountable to the people and Centre and we can’t again turn ourselves into a hotbed of covid. And not to mention after covid there is black fungus and experts are saying third wave will hit you in six months.”

    The court was hearing a group of public interest litigations clubbed together concerning Covid situation and related issues such as availability of oxygen, other essentials including beds, medicines and medical assistance to urban and rural areas of the state. 

    Next hearing of the matter has been scheduled on June 9, 2021.  

    The court also questioned the centre over diversion of Oxygen from Uttarakhand to other states without fulfilling the state’s demand. 

    Uttarakhand happens to be oxygen surplus state with demand of 180 metric tonnes and production of 350 metric tonnes. The hill state is allowed to take only 120 MT oxygen out of that and rest is being arranged from Jamshedpur and Durgapur. 

    The court questioned, “Why is the centre failing to understand a reasonable request of Uttarakhand? Instead of diverting Uttarakhand’s oxygen to Uttar Pradesh and asking us to import oxygen from Jamshedpur and Durgapur, which takes time, costs, why can’t we take it from our own state?”

    “We fail to understand despite a sharp increase in Covid cases and Uttarakhand being a hilly area, why the oxygen allocation to the state has not been increased to 300 MT?” questioned the CJ. 

    The court also added that it was surprised at the ‘callous attitude of the central government’ and ‘stepmotherly treatment’ as every request of Uttarakhand is falling on deaf ears. 

    The CJ further said, “I am sorry to say this neglect of Uttarakhand is not acceptable to the court. I’d like to believe our state is equal to other states.”

    The court visibly angry over absences of centre’s officials to clarify the situation said that it can issue summons to the official if he is too busy to appear before the court. 

    After state government officials appraised the court that the centre is yet to respond to the communications with regard to the issue, the court stated, “We are not going to take this answer that he is too busy to attend the court.  I am surprised to hear that someone has said is too busy to appear before this court. If he wants, I will issue summons.”

  • Record 4,329 COVID-19 fatalities in India in single day, daily cases lowest in 28 days

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 death toll climbed to 2,78,719 with a record 4,329 fresh fatalities, while the single day rise in coronavirus cases stood at 2.63 lakh, the lowest in 28 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

    The country reported 2,63,533 new cases in a span of 24 hours, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,52,28,996, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    A total of 2,59,170 cases were reported in a span of 24 hours on April 20.

    The active cases further reduced to 33,53,765 comprising 13.29 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 85.60 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,15,96,512, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.10 per cent, the data stated.

    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.

    According to the ICMR, 31,82,92,881 samples have been tested up to May 17 with 18,69,223 samples being tested on Monday.

  • New worry? Uttarakhand see alarming rise in COVID-19 cases among children

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Reeling under raging second wave of COVID-19, Uttarakhand has also registered alarming rise of infection among children. 

    Medical experts have warned that if steps not taken to prevent the spread in children, situation will deteriorate further.

    Dr Partap Rawat, Dehradun based pediatrician commenting on the issue said, “The trend is disturbing and can cause serious troubles. Though 95% children remain asymptomatic but things can get out of hand if this continues.”

    Till April 1, 2021, total 2,134 children between age group of 0-9 years were infected by Covid while total 2,935 got infected between April 2, 2021 to May 14, 2021. 

    The data shared by the state health department also revealed that cases have been registering significant increase every fortnight since the beginning of April 2021. 

    Between April 1-15, 2021 total 264 children in age group of 0-9 years of age got infected while the numbers increased to 1053 in duration of April 16-30. From May 1-14 2021 total 1618 children were reporter to have contracted infection.

    At present, total 21,857 children between age group of 10-19 years have been detected with COVID-19 infection till date according to state health department data. 

    Meanwhile, total active cases in Uttarakhand reached 78,802 on Sunday. The number of active cases came down from 80,000 in comparison with Friday as 5034 people recovered from Covid on Sunday while 4,496 new cases were added. 

    Sunday also marked lowest number of new cases surfacing in one day over last 21 days.

    Anoop Nautiyal, from Social Development for Communities Foundation which has been collating and analysing data in Uttarakhand, said, “Today is a day of hope amid all gloom and doom but then we should not be let our guard down. This is the time to stay vigilant and keep up the fight until this virus disappears.”

  • 45 inmates of Raipur’s Juvenile Observation Home test positive for Covid

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: At least 45 inmates and five staff in the government Observation Home for Juvenile located at Mana in Raipur tested positive for Covid-19 creating panic. 

    There are 95 adolescents kept in the Juvenile Observation Home run by the state women and child welfare department. 

    The Observation Home has been turned into an isolation centre. 

    “After conducting a Covid-test for all, the Observation Home was converted into isolation centre. The care has been intensified and all are stable. A doctor and six nurses are deployed on regular duty at the centre now,” said Ashok Pandey, project officer, department of women and child development. 

    Those diagnosed with coronavirus infection have been shifted to a separate hall. 

    According to the local sources, a few days ago a counsellor, who was found Covid positive, had visited and stayed at the Observation Home. 

  • India reports highest-ever single-day spike with 4,12,262 fresh COVID-19 cases, 3,980 deaths

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reported 4,12,262 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. With this, the cumulative count of COVID-19 cases in the country has gone up to 2,10,77,410, informed the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.

    As many as 3,980 patients succumbed to the infection during the last 24 hours, taking the total COVID-related death toll to 2,30,168. India registered a total of 3,29,113 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The total number of recoveries in the country now stands at 1,72,80,844.

    At present, India has 35,66,398 active coronavirus cases. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 29,67,75,209 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to May 5. Of these 19,23,131 samples were tested on Wednesday.

    The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered stands at 16,25,13,339, according to the Union Health Ministry. India is currently dealing with a devastating second COVID-19 wave that has swept through the nation, straining the country’s health infrastructure and overburdening frontline medical workers.

    Lockdown-like situation already in many states

    Maharashtra: Lockdown-like curbs imposed since April 5

    Odisha: Two-week lockdown since May 5

    Andhra Pradesh: Two-week noon-to-6 am curfew starting May 5

    Kerala: Mini-lockdown till May 9, night curfew

    Telangana: Only night curfew so far

    Tamil Nadu: Shops selling essential commodities can function till 12 noon

    Karnataka: Corona Curfew extended till May 12

    West Bengal: Shops to open from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm

    Jharkhand: Lockdown since April 22

    Madhya Pradesh: Staggered Janta Curfew in various districts

    Uttar Pradesh: Corona Curfew till May 10 morning

    Bihar: 11-day lockdown starting Wednesday

    Punjab: Non-essential shops shut till May 15

    Haryana: Lockdown from May 3-10

    Rajasthan: Virtual lockdown from April 19 to May 3

    Chhattisgarh: Lockdown extended till May 15

    Jammu & Kashmir: Corona curfew in 14 districts till Thursday morning; four districts under curfew till May 10

    North-East: Almost all states have clamped night curfew; complete lockdown in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district

  • COVID-19: Some states show early signs of plateauing

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Even as India continues to grapple with the devastating Covid-19 wave, there is some glimmer of hope as few states are showing early signs of plateauing or a small decline in daily cases. In a large number of states, however, the case trajectory continues to rise alarmingly.

    A look at data reveals that the highest number of daily positive cases was reported on April 30 with 4,020,14 cases when India became the first country to reach this grim milestone, while the highest number of deaths was recorded on May 1 with 3,684 fatalities. Both daily cases and deaths, however, have come down marginally over the last three days.

    On Monday, the country registered 3,57,229 cases and 3,449 deaths. This fall in the numbers is a result of a drop in cases and also deaths in some surge states and this fact were acknowledged by the Health Ministry on Monday. It said states such as Delhi, MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Punjab are showing early signs of plateauing or decline in daily new cases with a note of caution that these are very early signals to analyse anything. 

    ALSO READ: Chorus for India lockdown gets louder

    “Some other states, however, are showing increasing trends in Covid cases and these states should take required precautionary measures,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the ministry.  The states showing rising daily infections include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya among others.

    Epidemiologist Giridhara R Babu stressed the need of seeing the numbers in the context of testing to detect fresh infections. According to him, while states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu seem to be doing better owing to raised tests per million but plateauing or declining cases, in others—the situation is the opposite. 

    Health economist Rijo M John, who has been analysing the trend said it may be too early to say if things are getting better for some states. “A few states have decreased testing in the past couple of days and the reduced cases may be due to that reason,” he said. “We need to see decreasing new cases while increasing new tests to be able to say a certain state is seeing a peak.”

  • India records highest-ever spike of 4,01,993 new COVID-19 cases and 3,523 deaths

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India’s daily coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of four lakh, while the death toll rose to 2,11,853 with 3,523 fresh fatalities, according to date updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

    The data updated at 8 am showed at the infection tally rose to 1,91,64,969 with 4,01,993 new cases, while the active cases crossed the 32-lakh mark. Registering a steady increase, the active cases stood at 32,68,710, accounting for 17.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 81.84 per cent.

    The data stated that the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,56,84,406, while the case fatality rate stands 1.11 per cent. 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 1.50 crore on April 19.

    According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 28,83,37,385 samples have been tested up to April 30, of which 19,45,299 were done on Friday.

    The 3,523 new fatalities include 828 from Maharashtra, 375 from Delhi, 332  from Uttar Pradesh, 269 from Chhattisgarh, 217 from Karnataka, 173 from Gujarat, 155 from Rajasthan, 122 from Uttarakhand and 120 from Jharkhand, 113 each from Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

    A total of 2,11,853 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 68,813 from Maharashtra, 16,147 from Delhi ,15,523 from Karnataka, 14,046 from Tamil Nadu, 12,570 from Uttar Pradesh, 11,344 from West Bengal, 9,022 from Punjab and 8,581 from Chhattisgarh.

    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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  • West Bengal has highest coronavirus case spike rate in India

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: At 9.5%, poll-bound West Bengal has the highest Covid-19 case growth in the country now, data shared by the Union health ministry showed. It was followed by Karnataka, which has a near explosive growth rate of 9%, while Delhi, reeling under a huge medical oxygen crisis, has the second-lowest growth rate at 1.5% after Maharashtra (0.5 %), among the surge states. And at about 50%, Bengal’s capital Kolkata now has the highest test positivity rate.

    The stark West Bengal data showed a mirror to the Election Commission of India that till recently chose to ignore all violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour in the run up to the eight-phase elections in the state. Despite massive mask-less political rallies that created an uproar, the poll panel tried to wish them away till last week when it got a stinker from the Calcutta High Court and was forced to act.

    Another worrying figure was the 1,800% spike in active cases in Uttarakhand between March 31 and April 24, which coincided with the Haridwar Maha Kumbh, indicating the mela was a possible super spreader event in the state. Prior to the Maha Kumbh, the total active cases stood at 1,863 (March 31), but they quickly ballooned to 33,330 by April 24. 

    India, now the worst-hit in the pandemic globally, has been reporting nearly 1,500 or more daily deaths since April 20. On Sunday, the highest 2,812 fatalities were recorded. There are also concerns that the fatality count is being majorly undercounted in most cities and towns.

    In a health ministry press briefing on Monday, several government authorities, including V K Paul, member, Niti Aayog and Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS Delhi urged patients to follow home isolation protocols unless hospitalisation is absolutely required.