India sees record surge in virus cases, toll is 21,129
In Delhi, for 7 days in a row now, recoveries exceed infections; Central team reviews COVID-19 batle in TN; Air India to organise more flights under Vande Bharat mission
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday ruled out community spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“During our discussions today, experts again stated that there is no community transmission in India. There may be some localised pockets where transmission is high but as a country, there’s no community transmission,” he told the media.
The minister also played down the infected numbers which have placed India as third worstaffected country.
“We are a country with the second highest population in the world. Our cases per million are 538, while world average is 1,453,” Vardhan said.
India has seen a record single-day surge of 24,879 cases, taking the caseload to 7,67,296 on Thursday. The death toll climbed to 21,129 with 487 new fatalities.
The health ministry’s data showed that the number of recoveries stands at 4,76,377 while there are 2,69,789 active cases.
It said 75 % of the cases are in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, Telangana, UP and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra has 223,724 cases while the death toll has reached 9,448.
In Delhi, there were some green signals. For seven days in a row now, recoveries have exceeded the number of new infections.
Ater reaching a peak on June 23, when 3,947 new infections were detected in Delhi, there has been a steady decline in the number of new cases. On Monday, only 1,379 new cases were found in the capital.
Delhi government announced it revised “Covid Response Plan” in the morning. The government in Delhi will be screening daily wagers, domestic helps, auto drivers as well as food suppliers for the deadly disease.
The national capital has already increased testing and launched the largest isolation bed facility.
Earlier, national carrier Air India, meanwhile, has moved to organise more flights under the Vande Bharat mission. Even as international flights remain suspended until July 31, the carrier is eyeing flights from July 15 to repatriate expats from the Gulf.
CENTRAL TEAM: A team of medical experts and other officials sent by the Union government reviewed the Tamil Nadu government’s handling of virus cases on Thursday. The team, headed by Union Health and Family Welfare Additional Secretary Aarti Ahuja, visited some of the pandemic clinical management facilities in the city.
They also assessed the ground situation, interacting with the state officials.
Even as the team was in the city, 18 patients died at the city’s hospitals on Thursday. Six people died at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, five at Omanthoorar Hospital, three each at Stanley Hospital and Kilpauk Hospital and one at a private hospital.
On Wednesday 3,756 people were tested positive, taking the total number of cases to 1, 22,350. Of the total, 46,480 patients are currently undergoing treatment.
Madurai caused worry as 310 cases piled on Thursday, with total tally reaching 5,367.
Minister for Electricity P Thangamani was tested positive for coronavirus and was hospitalised on Wednesday. Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan and former minister B Valarmathi are being treated for coronavirus. More than 10 legislators from the ruling ADMK and the DMK have been afflicted with the virus.
In a shocker, several mentally challenged patients are among 25 people at the Institute of Mental Health who have tested positive. They have been isolated at separate wards inside the institute. Some with strong infection have been admited to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.
The Institute’s director, Poorna Chandrika, has also been afflicted.
Meanwhile state Education Minister KA Sengotaiyan said that classes for the government school children will be held on television. A day earlier he had stated that online classes will start on July 13, but he has now come up with a clarification.
Sengotaiyan also said the pending Plus Two exam will be held on July 27. Arrangements will be made for the transportation of the students.
The Plus Two results are expected to be announced ater evaluation of the answer sheets of the pending exam as well.