India’s Covid-19 slide continues

The coronavirus cases in India are on the decline. Fresh cases are less than a lakh per day for the last three weeks, with 74,442 detected positive in the 24 hours up to Monday morning as against 75,829 the previous day. The caseload on hospitals in the country has been less than 10 lakh for the past two weeks, while it registered on Monday a further fall of 3,198 cases to touch 9,34,427.

Those undergoing the tests reached almost 7 crores, with 9.90 tests in the 24 hours, while total virus cases in the country since March reached 66.24 lakh. So far, 55.87 lakh patients have recovered, setting the recovery rate of 84.34%. In the said 24 hours, 76,737 recovered, which is higher than the new cases.

The death toll has touched 1,02,685, with 903 dying in the past 24 hours. India’s fatality rate stands at 1.55%. Unlock: Govt to renew awareness drive

The Union government will soon roll out a renewed campaign that aims to spread awareness about "appropriate COVID-19 behaviour" in view of the forthcoming festive season and further unlocking of public activities, officials said on Monday.

Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla is expected to chair a meeting to chart out the new plan on Tuesday.

Cases may peak in K’taka in few weeks

After having recorded over 10,000 cases on Sunday, Karnataka reported 7,051 new cases on Monday as tests slid from 85,000 to just 67,000 over 24 hours. Active cases in the state have shot up to 1,15477 with a total caseload of 6,47712. It also recorded 84 deaths, taking the total to 9,370. Bengaluru added 2,189 new cases and 34 deaths, taking the total to 3101. Mysuru recorded 910 new infections. Experts say Karnataka will continue to see a surge in the next few weeks as the pandemic may not have peaked. Meanwhile, the state has banned strike by doctors and health staff.