Covid cases Archives - Lokmarg

Multifold Jump In Covid Cases; Kerala, Karnataka Major Contributors

By LokMarg 23rd December 2023

A multifold spurt in fresh Covid cases was noted in India over the past 24 hours, with Kerala contributing the major chunk of those.

A total of 423 cases were reported and of which 266 were from Kerala and 70 from neighbouring Karnataka, Union health ministry data showed.

Two deaths were reported in Kerala.

The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country was recorded at 3,420.

Meanwhile, amid rising concerns over the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus, former World Health Organisation (WHO) chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan asserted that there is no need to panic currently as it is a variant of interest and not of concern. However, she urged people to be cautious by taking proper precautionary measures.

Speaking to ANI exclusively, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former DG, of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “We need to be cautious, but we don’t need to worry because we don’t have any data to suggest that this variant JN.1 is more severe or it’s going to cause more pneumonia, more death.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

The number of new COVID cases increased by 52 per cent during the past four-odd weeks, the WHO said, with over 850 000 new cases reported during the period.

The number of new deaths decreased by 8 per cent as compared to the previous 28-day period, with over 3,000 new fatalities reported, World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest press release.

As of December 17, over 772 million confirmed cases and nearly seven million deaths have been reported globally since the onset of COVID-19, the WHO noted.

Further, the WHO said over 118,000 new COVID-19 hospitalisations and over 1600 new intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been recorded, with an overall increase of 23 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively, globally.

Due to its rapidly increasing spread, WHO is classifying the variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOI) from the parent lineage BA.2.86. It was previously classified as VOI as part of BA.2.86 sublineages.

Based on the available evidence, the additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low. Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.

The WHO had earlier said it was continuously monitoring the evidence and would update the JN.1 risk evaluation as needed.

Current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it noted.

COVID-19 is not the only respiratory disease circulating. Influenza, RSV, and common childhood pneumonia are also on the rise.

The WHO advises people to take measures to prevent infections and severe disease using all available tools. These include wearing a mask when in crowded, enclosed, or poorly ventilated areas, keeping a safe distance from others, practicing respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes), cleaning hands regularly, and getting tested if one has any symptoms or if you might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or influenza. (ANI)

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India’s COVID Cases Dip Further

By LokMarg 2nd May 2023

India recorded 3,325 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 957 less than the count reported on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The number of positive cases of Covid has seen a decline over the past few days, the Ministry said Tuesday, adding the total number of active cases in the country stands at 44,175.
The country reported 4,282 cases on Monday while 5,874 cases were recorded on Sunday.

As many as 6,379 Covid patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total count of recoveries to 4,43,77,257.

The recovery rate stands at 98.72 per cent.

The daily positivity rate presently stands at 2.29 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate is at 3.87 per cent.

A total of 92.69 crore Covid tests have been conducted in the country so far, with 1,45,309 tests undertaken in the last 24 hours, as stated by the Health Ministry.

As per the Ministry, 2,180 doses of vaccine were administered in the last 24 hours.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Welfare, 220.66 crore total vaccine doses which comprise 95.21 crore second doses and 22.87 crore precaution doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

Earlier on April 20, in the wake of the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, Dr PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting to assess the situation.

During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was made by Rajesh Bhushan, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare providing an overview of the global COVID-19 situation.

The presentation also provided an overview of the Genome Sequencing of different variants since January 2023 and noted the proportion of circulating variants in India. The status of vaccination was discussed, followed by drug availability and infrastructure preparedness across the country, the PMO stated.

Bhushan also advised the officials to maintain a strict vigil on the COVID-19 situation and take necessary actions to contain its spread. (ANI)

11,692 Fresh COVID Cases In Last 24 Hours

By LokMarg 21st April 2023

Fresh 11,692 covid-19 infections were recorded in the last 24 hours in the country, marking a dip from Thursday’s tally of 12,591 cases, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

India recorded 12,591 on April 20, 10,542 on April 19, 7,633 on April 18, 9,111 on April 17, 10,093 on April 16, and 10,753 on April 15.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the country’s active cases increased to 66,170 which was 65,286 yesterday.

Presently recovery rate stands at 98.68 per cent with 0.15 per cent of active cases, the Health Ministry stated further in its release.

Further, 10,780 recoveries in the last 24 hours to the overall count of people cured of the infection to 4,42,72,256, the bulletin stated, adding that the overall recovery rate is currently at 98.67 per cent.

Under the nationwide Vaccination Drive, India has so far administered 220,66,31,979 crore Covid vaccine doses (95.21 cr second doses and 22.87 cr precautionary doses), of which 3,647 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

The total number of tests conducted in the last 24 hours is 2,29,739, the health ministry stated.

In wake of the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, Dr PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation.

The PMO informed in a statement that the focus of the meeting was on the status of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, drugs, vaccination campaign in the country and the key necessary steps as a response to the recent surge in Covid cases.

“Dr PK Mishra stressed that the time tested 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence COVID Appropriate Behaviour must continue to be implemented and equally crucial to promote awareness within the community regarding COVID appropriate behaviour and caution citizens against complacency,” the PMO statement read.

During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was made by Rajesh Bhushan, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare providing an overview of the global COVID-19 situation.

Bhushan highlighted that India has been witnessing a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases with the majority of cases being reported in eight states; Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Further, the sudden increase in positivity was also highlighted along with the status of tests being conducted in the country. A detailed analysis of active cases within these eight states was presented. It was highlighted that approximately 92 per cent of the cases are under home isolation.

As per directions of the Prime Minister, a nationwide mock drill for the assessment of functional infrastructure was conducted and the status of the mock drill was presented to participants. Further, the expenditure of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and budget provisions for drugs and vaccine raw materials were also reviewed.

Health Secretary also informed that states have already been advised that they may take steps for procurement of requisite Covid vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers at their end without any prior approvals from the Union Ministry of Health. Private Hospitals situated in the States may also directly procure such Vaccines from the manufacturer These vaccines once procured may be administered as per the existing Covid vaccination guidelines.

He also advised the officials to maintain a strict vigil on the COVID-19 situation and take necessary actions to contain the COVID-19 spread. (ANI)

Delhi Records 11 New Covid Cases In 24 Hours

By LokMarg 1st January 2023

Delhi recorded 11 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, with a case positivity rate of 0.31 per cent, stated a bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department on Sunday.

With the fresh infections, the active cases in the city stand at 42. According to the bulletin, 8 Covid patients recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 19,80,670.

However, with no death from Covid reported over the last 24 hours, the overall toll in the national capital remained at 26,521.

As part of the country’s ongoing vaccination drive, 1,151 Covid vaccine shots were administered in the city in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative tally to 3,73,60,532.

As many as 2,449 Covid samples were tested in the last 24 hours taking the total number of samples tested in the national capital to 4,06,07,340.

The bulletin further informed that the national capital has, so far, not reported any cases of Omicron BF.7 sub-variant, the new Covid strain blamed for the explosion in cases in neighbouring China, Japan and several other countries.

It added that the Centre had instructed the Delhi government to ensure genome sequencing of every reported case.

Earlier this month, Dr Suresh, MD, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital said the hospital authorities are awake to the global Covid surge and arrangements are being made to augment infrastructure, including more ICU beds.

“BF.7 cases have gone up exponentially in some countries, including China, South Korea, Japan, Brazil and the US, over the last week. Four cases of BF.7 were detected in India — in Odisha and Gujarat in the previous month. However, no such case has been reported here so far. We are, nonetheless, vigilant. The Centre has instructed us to conduct genome sequencing of every case,” Dr Suresh told ANI.

Detailing the preparedness of the hospital in anticipation of a surge in cases, he said the hospital has got its own genome sequencing lab and a separate labour room for infected mothers as well. (ANI)

K’taka: Masks Compulsory In Restaurants, Pubs, Theatre, Schools

By LokMarg 26th December 2022

In the wake of a surge in Covid cases in several countries, wearing masks has been made compulsory inside restaurants, pubs, theatre halls, schools, and colleges in Karnataka.

Health Minister of Karnataka K. Sudhakar said to ANI, “There’s no need to panic. But we have to take precautions from now on.”
Ahead of New Year celebrations, there will be a huge crowd in pubs and restaurants. Therefore the Covid protocols have to be followed strictly, said the minister.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a virtual meeting with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) at 4 pm today on Covid-19 preparedness, situation, and awareness, IMA informed ANI.

Recently, IMA also issued an advisory and appealed to the public to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour with immediate effect.

“As per the available reports, nearly 5.37 lakh new cases have been reported in last 24 hours from major countries like USA, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil,” read the statement of IMA. (ANI)

3,011 New COVID Cases In Last 24 Hours

By LokMarg 3rd October 2022

India recorded 3,011 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs on Monday.

India’s active caseload currently stands at 36,126, which accounts for 0.8 percent of the total cases. The national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.73 percent, the health ministry said.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.23 percent while the weekly positivity rate was 1.31 percent. The death toll climbed to 5,28,701 with 28 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Under the nationwide vaccination drive, 218.77 crore total vaccine doses with 94.87 crore receiving a second dose and 21.41 crore being precaution doses. The total of 1,70,034 doses have been administered in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India supported the States and Union Territories by providing them with COVID-19 Vaccines free of cost.

Earlier, ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’, launched on July 15 this year to give an impetus to Precaution Dose as part of the national COVID vaccination drive, concluded on Friday after administrating over 15.92 crores of precaution doses, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ministry of Health said that over 13.01 lakh Special COVID vaccination camps were organized during these 75 days.

“In 75 days, across all states and UTs, 11,104 camps were organized at bus stations, 5,664 camps at railway stations, 511 camps at airports, over 1,50,004 camps at various schools and colleges, 4,451 camps at routes of religious yatras, and over 11,30,044 camps were organized at various private and government workplaces and industrial establishments,” the statement from the ministry read.

The Ministry claimed that more than 76.18 lakh first doses, 2.35 crore second doses, and 15.92 crore precaution doses had been administered in this period of 75 days. “More than 24.73 lakh doses per day have been administered, including 20.68 lakh doses of precaution dose per day,” it said, adding that with the intervention of a 75-day long free vaccination campaign, 27% of the eligible population have now received their precaution dose as it was only 8% earlier at the start of the initiative.

Under the COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava, all states and UTs were urged to run the campaign as a “Jan Abhiyan’ with massive mass mobilization through a camp approach. Multiple special vaccination camps in the routes of Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), Amarnath Yatra (Jammu and Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all states and UTs of North India) as well as major Melas and congregations were organized. Furthermore, special vaccination camps were organized at office complexes, industrial establishments, railway stations, inter-state bus stations, schools, and colleges. (ANI)