Unnecessary panic on Covid-19 causing more harm, says Centre

NEW DELHI: As India grapples with a raging second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the government on Monday sought to allay people’s fears, saying unnecessary panic is causing more harm than good.

Addressing a joint press conference with other senior functionaries, joint secretary in the health ministry Lav Agarwal stressed on the need for vaccination and observing Covid-19 appropriate behaviours.

Agarwal said many people have been found to be occupying hospital beds out of panic.

Hospital admission should only be on the advice of doctors, he stressed.

With 352,991 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in the 24-hours to Monday, the highest single-day rise so far, India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases has climbed to 17,313,163 while active cases have crossed the 2.8 million mark, according to the health ministry.

The death toll increased to 195,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data showed.

Active cases have increased to 2,813,658 comprising 16.25% of the total infections, the data showed.