Cases fall, but deaths rise to a record 4,329 in 24 hrs

Only 2% affected by Covid in India, 98% still vulnerable: Govt

There appears to be some light at the end of the dark tunnel of the Covid-19 second wave, as for the second consecutive day India recorded less than 3 lakh daily new cases while daily recoveries crossed more than 4.22 lakh for the first time. A decline of 1.63 lakh in the active caseload in the last 24 hours was registered, and 2,63,533 new cases. However, the death figures continue to be very high. A total of 4,329 fresh fatalities were recorded in 24 hours on Tuesday.

Several states that were earlier reporting very high cases are now showing a decline in daily trends while some others continue to show an upward trajectory.

However, a Union health ministry official said only two per cent of India’s total population has been affected by the disease so far and 98 per cent are still susceptible. “Despite the high number of cases reported so far, we have been able to contain the spread to under 2 per cent

of the population. This should also make us wary of protecting the still vulnerable/susceptible 98 per cent population. We cannot let our guards down, hence, continued focus on containment is critical,” Lav Aggarwal of the Union health ministry said.

NitiAayog member (health) Dr V.K. Paul said efforts at containment and testing are resulting in stabilization but still a few states continue to be “cause of concern”.

“There is a mixed picture but overall there is stabilisation and what we know from scientific analysis is that the reproduction number is below 1 now, which means the pandemic is shrinking. We are hoping and keeping the case fatality rate reasonably under control. We have to be very mindful that when we are achieving a declining positivity rate it is a result of what we are doing and that doing cannot be slackened. We cannot again let this go out of hand,” Dr Paul said. He added it has been seen that children were affected and that they are largely asymptomatic.

“Severe disease in children is uncommon but we have a protocol for that too. Children can have asymptomatic infection and they can also spread it. We have reasonable clarity on it,” he said, adding Covaxin is beginning trials on children in 10-12 days.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged the Centre to stop flights from Singapore where a variant of Covid has been detected in children. Singapore has shut all schools at the moment.

“The new form of Corona that came to Singapore is being said to be extremely dangerous for children, in India it may come as a third wave. My appeal to the Central government is to cancel air services with Singapore with immediate effect and the priority on vaccine options should be worked out for children too,” said Mr Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with leading doctors and deliberated on the recent challenge of Mucormycosis. He urged doctors to make extra effort in spreading awareness about it and underlined the need to strengthen the reach of telemedicine in tehsils and districts of the country by training students and interns. “You understand the challenges of your district much better. So when your district wins, the country wins. When your district beats Corona, the country defeats Corona,” he said and commended officials who were working without taking any leave in spite of contracting Covid-19.”