According to figures released on Friday by the Union Health Ministry, India recorded 11,109 new coronavirus infections, the highest number in 236 days, while the number of active cases rose to 49,622. 29 deaths taking the total number of deaths to 5,31,064.
On April 14, 920 patients were discharged, and as of today, 80,00,126 Covid-19 patients have received their discharge after full recovery. According to the bulletin, the state’s recovery rate is 98.11%.
According to a health official, Maharashtra reported 1,086 Covid-19 cases and one death on Thursday, bringing the total to 81,53,377 cases and the death toll to 1,48,471, according to the PTI.
The Center has advised caution and increased vigilance as the nation experiences an increase in Covid cases. Recently, there has been an increase in Covid cases in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala.
In addition to the 214 cases reported the day before, Delhi reported 300 new Covid infections on Wednesday. The number of daily new Covid cases in India also increased to 2,151, a 5-month high.
According to Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National IMA COVID Taskforce and former president of the Indian Medical Association, some reasons for the increase in cases include the gradual decline in immunity, the abandonment of safeguards, and genetic mutations.
“Covid-19 is a cyclical viral disease, which means that periodically there will be surges. Reasons include gradual waning of immunity, dropping of precautions, greater mingling, travel, and genetic mutations that allow the virus to escape the human immune response from either vaccination, prior infection or both,”he stated.
He continued, “The good news is that all the recent sublineages isolated from India are exclusively Omicron, which unlike Delta, is less likely to directly attack the lungs. However, Omicron is known to aggravate underlying disease conditions and result in serious outcomes, especially in older people. It is also known to cause less severe disease among vaccinated adults.”
Dr. Jayadevan added that Covid-19’s ability to repeatedly infect the same individual, regardless of earlier infections or vaccinations, is what makes it challenging to contain.
“Multiple strategies have to be followed at once to reduce the total disease burden in the community, and on hospitals. The strategy also must include keeping elderly people safe, especially during times of surge, for instance, by staying away from crowded indoor gatherings in ill-ventilated spaces. Masking and triaging at hospitals will help reduce the spread of virus from Covid patients to others, some of whom might be in the vulnerable category,” he stated.
In regard towards the sudden increase in cases, the Health Ministry organized a high-level meeting on Monday to discuss the status of preparedness for all aspects of pandemic management with states and UTs via video conference.
