Half of active cases in 10 cities

NEW DELHI: As India crossed the 1 million-mark for Covid-19 cases, here is the most important statistic of the disease’s run through the country: at least half the 330,725 active cases in the country as of Wednesday night were reported from just 10 cities, with a third of all such cases in one state, Maharashtra.

An analysis of active coronavirus infections shows that urban centres, or city districts, are significantly more affected and account for a majority of the active cases; just the 10 cities account of 52.7% of all active cases in the country. Active cases -those still under treatment -- is a crucial metric because it directly reflects the pressure on the health care system in any region.

Three of the five worst-hit cities in terms of total active cases are in Maharashtra: Thane (at 34,721, it is the highest in the country), Pune (25,510) and Mumbai (22,888). Hyderabad, which has the second highest number of active cases, appears to stand out, with nearly 99% of the 29,111 cases in the city currently active.

Among the top 10 cities based on active cases, Delhi has the lowest proportion of active cases: 15.2%.