Govt: Cases increased by 150% in 70 districts
5 states, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu account for 71% of new infections
NEW DELHI: Covid-19 cases increased by over 150% in 70 districts spread across 16 states in the country in the 15-day period starting March 1, the government said on Wednesday. In addition, 55 districts in 17 states witnessed a spike of anywhere between 100 and 150%, the Centre also observed.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, during a press conference on Wednesday, said that most states and districts, where the increasing trend has been observed, are located in western and northern part of India.
Five states continue to report a high number of daily Covid-19 cases, and account for 71.1% of the 28,903 new infections reported on Wednesday — the highest tally so far this year, the health ministry said.
NEW DELHI: Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases increased by over 150 per cent in 70 districts spread across 16 states in the country in the 15-day period starting March 1, the government said on Wednesday. In addition, 55 districts in 17 states witnessed a spike of anywhere between 100 and 150 per cent, the Centre also observed.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, during a press conference on Wednesday evening, said that most states and districts, where the increasing trend has been observed, are located in western and northern part of India.
“Cases dropped after mid-September. From 97,000 to 9,000. Cases are building up again, which is a matter of concern. Seventy districts in 16 states saw a 150 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases in the last 15 days,” he added.
Five states, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, continue to report a high number of daily COVID-19 cases, and account for 71.10 per cent of the 28,903 new infections reported on Wednesday, the Union Health Ministry said.
The sixth state with the highest number of infections is Kerala, which has been reporting a consistently declining trend over the last month.
With Kerala added to the list, the six states account for 83.91 per cent of the new cases, the ministry said.
Maharashtra alone accounts for 61.8 per cent of the daily new cases with 17,864 cases. It is followed by Kerala with 1,970 cases while Punjab reported 1,463 new cases, the ministry said.
Kerala is reporting a consistently declining trend over the last one month.
India’s total active caseload has reached 2.34 lakh (2,34,406) comprising 2.05 per cent of the total infections.
“Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab account for 76.4 per cent of India’s total active cases, with Maharashtra alone contributing nearly 60 per cent,” the ministry highlighted.
Over 35 million (3,50,64,536) vaccine doses have been administered through 586,855 sessions, as per the provisional report till Wednesday 7 am, the ministry said.
These include 7.5 million healthcare workers (HCWs) who have been given the 1st dose, 4.5 million HCWs who have been administered the 2nd dose), 7.6 million frontline workers (FLWs) who have taken the 1st dose) and 1.6 million FLWs who have been given the 2nd doses.
Besides, 2.1 million beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities and 1.15 million individuals aged more than 60 years have been administered the 1st dose.
As on day-60 of the vaccination drive (16th March, 2021), more than 2.1 million (21,17,104) vaccine doses were given. Of these, 1.7 million beneficiaries were vaccinated across 30,871 sessions for 1st dose and 334,551 HCWs and FLWs received the 2nd dose of vaccine.
India’s cumulative recoveries surged to 11 million. The ministry stated that 188 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours.
Six states account for 86.7 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (87).
Punjab follows with 38 daily deaths. Kerala reported 15 deaths.
Fifteen states and UTs have not reported any Covid-19 deaths in a span of 24 hours. These are Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Daman and Diu & Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Nagaland, Tripura, Ladakh, Manipur, Mizoram, Andman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the Union health ministry on Wednesday said that India’s overall percentage of Covid-19 vaccine wastage is at 6.5%, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh topping the list with 17.6% and 11.6% of vaccine wastage, respectively.
“India’s overall percentage of COVID-19 vaccine wastage is 6.5 per cent. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recorded 17.6 per cent and 11.6 per cent of vaccine wastage respectively. We have told the states that vaccine wastage needs to be drastically reduced,” Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at the weekly press briefing.
He added that states have been requested to do testing, tracking and treating in a more efficient manner amid the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed disappointment at this wastage while speaking to Chief Ministers in the meeting that was held earlier in the day regarding the Covid-19 situation, said Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a detailed discussion with states and Union Territories on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination. He expressed disappointment at vaccine wastage. It is a precious commodity. At an individual level and for the country, this wastage is not right. He has said that wastage should be absolutely minimal,” Paul said.