146 more die, but fatality rate falling

Maharashtra still a worry; WHO warns of 2nd Covid wave in winter

After four days of daily high numbers, India got some respite Tuesday from soaring coronavirus cases.

The health ministry said 6,535 fresh cases and 146 more deaths were reported, taking the total to 1,45,380. There are 80,722 patients being treated while 60,490 were discharged, and 4,167 have died so far.

However, covid19 india.org says there were 1.47 lakh cases and 4,197 deaths by 7 pm Tuesday. The health ministry data is of 8 am Tuesday.

Health ministry officials said the situation in India was much better, and low, compared to the rest of the world, as it reported 10.7 cases per lakh population, compared to 69.9 cases per lakh population elsewhere.

Officials said India’s case fatality rate was showing a downward trend, from 3.30 per cent

(on April 15) to around 2.87 per cent now, among the lowest in the world. The global average is now around 6.45 per cent.

“Our Covid-19 fatality rate is among the lowest in the world. Belgium has about 800 deaths per million, India has reported only three deaths per million,” officials said.

India’s recovery rate was steadily improving from 7.1 per cent in March to 41.6 per cent now.

However, it may be too soon for Indian officials to pat their backs as the World Health has warned the world is still in the middle of the first wave of the pandemic, and a second wave may be coming

by winter. The Maharashtra situation remains alarming, as active cases are rising in huge numbers.

Dharavi on Tuesday saw 38 new cases, taking the state’s total count to 52,667 cases and 1,695 deaths. Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala and Assam too show big increases.