Coronavirus update: Indian Statistics Perilous; Mutant Strains Behind COVID Surge: AIIMS Chief

New Delhi: Adding another 47,000 citizens to the tally, the infectious count of the country has risen to 1,16,45,719.  This rise has prompted states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to consider reverting to school closure, restricted public gatherings, and other measures, including lockdowns in worst-hit districts.

Consistently recording a spike since Mid-February, India is strangled by the novel virus. The Health Ministry reported 213 fatalities, the highest in the past 112 days, raising the cumulative count to 1,60,003. The daily recovery figures have recorded a fall to 21,205 only.  More than 3 lakh confirmed citizens have been identified as active presenters of the diseases.

India’s national capital recorded 823 cases in a single day, marking the highest rise for this year. These cases have pushed the total tally to 6,47.984 infections. However, COVID-linked deaths have not imitated the rise yet.  Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, accounts for 62 percent of daily cases in the country, the government said.

The western state reported 30,535 daily coronavirus cases for the first time ever. Ninety-two people in the state died because of the illness in the last 24 hours, as per sources.  In the south, Tamil Nadu has ordered the closure of schools for classes 9, 10, and 11 from March 22. However, classes for the 12th standard students will continue as they have to take the board examination. 

“There is a loss of Covid-appropriate behaviour. Now people feel that the pandemic is over because vaccines are here. So, they fail to wear masks. We see large crowds gathering – again without masks. Many of these crowded events have become super-spreading events,” Dr. Guleria said. According to him, infections are likely being caused by slip-ups in precautionary measures and variants of the virus which may spread rapidly if basic precautions are not taken.