Cases fall in Maha, Delhi, but rise in TN, K’taka and Kerala
Several states extend lockdown
The Centre said on Saturday that even though the Covid-19 pandemic is stabilising in large parts of the country, there is still a long way to go to battle this particular wave as the positivity rate is still over 10 per cent in 382 districts. Addressing a press conference, Niti Aayog member (Health) V.K. Paul said India was able to come this far in controlling this pandemic through restrictions on social and economic activities and containment and care measures.
“In large parts of the country, the pandemic is stabilising, the positivity rate and active cases are reducing and recovery rate is rising (but) it is also being seen that there’s an increase in other states… we have a long way to go to handle this wave… As the situation improves we need to keep ensuring that the chain of transmission remains broken,” he said.
For the sixth consecutive day the daily new cases remained under three lakh and recoveries outnumbered fresh cases for the ninth consecutive day. Over 3.57 lakh people bounced back from Covid in the last 24 hours and India’s daily positivity rate declined to 12.45 per cent.
The active cases further reduced to 29,23,400 comprising 11.12 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid
to recovery rate improved 87.76 per cent.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease in the country surged to 2,30,70,365, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.12 per cent, the data stated.
“There are only seven states that are reporting more than 10,000 cases and six states with 5,000-10,000 cases. Six states are reporting a high number of deaths. These are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Punjab and Delhi. There are more than 93 districts where declining case positivity is being noted,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the Union health ministry.
For the second day in a row Delhi’s positivity rate remained below 5 per cent with 2,260 fresh cases of Covid-19 detected in the last 24 hours. The death figures too in the national capital showed a decline with 182 fatalities in the last 24 hours. The national figures too are showing a decline as 2.57 lakh fresh cases were detected and 4,194 fatalities recorded out of the 20.66 lakh tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra and Delhi are no longer the top two places reporting highest cases. Tamil Nadu is now reporting the highest daily new cases followed by Karnataka and Kerala. Several states have extended lockdowns and restrictions in view of high cases.
“Triple lockdown will continue in Malappuram district. Restrictions will be tightened as test positivity rate is high. We will conduct tests among 75,000 people on Monday and Tuesday. More police force will be deployed, directing them to take strict action against violators,” Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. The state has suspended all professional and education entrance exams as of now. Tamil Nadu too extended its lockdown for another week.
In J&K, “Corona Curfew” has been extended in all 20 districts till May 31. Curfew will be strict except for a few essential services and district collectors have been given limited flexibility to ensure economic activities do not suffer.
States are pressurising the Centre for increasing vaccine supply. “In today’s situation where vaccine supply is very limited, the option of private hospitals wherein they charge exorbitant price is unacceptable. I request you to look into this and dispense with private hospitals so that entire stock is available to State and Centre,” Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the state is planning to vaccinate parents whose children are under 10 years of age before the third wave.
Union health ministry has written to states, UTs saying family members of employees too can be vaccinated at their workplace.