India’s 83% of new COVID-19 cases account from 5 states: Health Ministry

India on Saturday witnessed the highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases this year with nearly 44,000 infections. The Union Health Ministry on Sunday said that five states, namely Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh account for 83.14% of the new infections.

Maharashtra is witnessing a sharp increase in coronavirus cases as on Saturday it recorded 27,126 cases of COVID-19, followed by Punjab with 2,578 while Kerala at 2,078. Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh reported 1,798, 1,565 and 1, 308 infections in a day.

India’s tally of COVID-19 cases now stands at 11,599,130.

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Experts say that India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases because people feel that the pandemic is over and they don’t follow the safety guidelines appropriately. 

“There are multiple reasons for the surge, but the main reason is that there is change in people’s attitude and they feel coronavirus is over. People should still restrict non-essential travel for some more time,” AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said.

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Dr V K Paul, NITI Aayog member (Health), said to remain free of this virus, it is very important that COVID-appropriate behaviour, containment strategy, readiness from the health infrastructure point of view as well as vaccination has to be brought in to fight the pandemic.

He advised that in districts where COVID-19 cases are seemingly on the rise, vaccination of eligible individuals should be intensified and prioritised.

In the span of 24 hours, 197 deaths were reported in India, the health ministry data said, adding six states account for 86.8% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties at 92. Punjab follows with 38 daily deaths. Kerala reported 15 deaths.

Delhi reported over 800 coronavirus cases for the first time this year on Saturday, while two more people succumbed to the disease.

The active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rose to 3,409 from 3,165 a day ago. The positivity rate breached the 1% after over two months, according to a bulletin.

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat and Haryana are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases, according to the ministry.

India’s total active caseload was recorded over 3.09 lakh (3,09,087) comprising 2.66% of the total infections.

A net rise of 20,693 cases recorded from the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours.

States and UTs showing an upsurge in daily new cases and with a high caseload of active cases have been advised by the Centre to improve testing in districts reporting reduction in testing and increase the overall share of RT-PCR tests (more than 70 pc), especially in districts dependent on high levels of antigen testing in line with the ‘Test Track and Treat’ strategy of the government.

They have also been advised to carry out an average close contact tracing of minimum of 20 persons per positive case (in the first 72 hours) along with isolation and early treatment of the serious cases as per clinical protocol.

They have been asked to focus on surveillance and stringent containment of those areas in selected districts which are seeing cluster of cases and focus on clinical management in districts reporting higher deaths and that they should also follow up on sending samples for genome testing to track virus variants of concern, officials said.