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With a steady increase in the daily fresh coronavirus cases since the third week of February, with over 89,000 cases reported on April 2, the seven-day average test positivity rate climbing to 6.8% as on April 2, and with the reproduction number (R0) — how many people each infected person will infect on average — above 1.5 and steadily increasing over the last two–three weeks, the second wave has well and truly begun in many States.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
Jammu and Kashmir
J&K L-G Manoj Sinha visits hospital to enquire about Farooq Abdullah’s health
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the SKIMS hospital in Srinagar on April 4 to enquire about the health of National Conference (NC) president and MP Farooq Abdullah, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
Mr. Sinha, who met Mr. Abdullah’s son and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah at the hospital, instructed the doctors at the SKIMS to provide best treatment to the MP from Srinagar.
New Delhi
Maharashtra, Punjab reporting highest daily cases
Maharashtra and Punjab are the two worst hit States in terms of their share in the total number of new cases and fatalities across the country in the last fortnight, according to official documents.
The growth rate of last seven days for daily new cases till March 23 in Maharashtra was 3.6% and in Punjab it was 3.2%.
Maharashtra has added 4,26,108 cases in last two weeks as on March 31, while Punjab has added 35,754 cases in the same period. — PTI
Vice-President receives second COVID-19 vaccine shot
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu was administered the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the AIIMS here on Sunday.
He had received the first shot in Chennai on March 1.
“I appeal to all the eligible people to get themselves vaccinated immediately & everyone to continue to follow all precautions in view of the surge in cases in some parts of the country,” the Vice President’s Secretariat tweeted, quoting Mr. Naidu. — PTI
PM Modi chairs high-level meet to review COVID situation as cases surge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Sunday to review the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination programme amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
Sources said top officials, including cabinet secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister, health secretary and NITI Aayog member Vinod Paul, attended the meeting.
India on Sunday recorded 93,249 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far this year, which took the total COVID-19 cases to 1,24,85,509, according to Union health ministry data.
This is the biggest daily rise in cases since September 19, when 93,337 fresh infections were recorded. – PTI
New Delhi
India records this year’s biggest single-day jump of 93,249 COVID-19 cases
India on April 4 recorded 93,249 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far this year, which took the total COVID-19 cases to 1,24,85,509, according to Union Health Ministry data.
This is the biggest daily rise in cases since September 19, when 93,337 fresh infections were recorded.
The death toll climbed to 1,64,623 on Sunday with 513 new fatalities, the Ministry data updated at 8 a.m. showed. — PTI
Maharashtra
Akshay Kumar tests positive
Actor Akshay Kumar announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
“I wish to inform everyone that, earlier this morning, I have tested positive for COVID-19. Following all the protocols, I have immediately isolated myself,” he wrote.
“I am under home quarantine and have sought necessary medical care. I would sincerely request all those that have come in contact with me to get themselves tested and take care of. Back in action very soon!” the tweet said.
What is driving the second wave in India?
While the onset of the festival season since the pandemic peaked in mid-September in India, winter, no restrictions on movement, large gatherings and not-so-good adherence of mask wearing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions did not cause any spike in cases across the country, what is driving the current surge in cases in many States?
Cited reasonsThe Health Ministry has cited the general laxity among people regarding COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, including mask wearing, and lack of containment and management strategy at the ground level as reasons for the surge in cases. The role of variants, either the imported ones or those that have originated in India, are not seen to be responsible.
Read what experts say, here.
New Delhi
No fresh vaccine registration for healthcare workers and frontline workers
No fresh registration for COVID-19 vaccination in categories of Health Care and Frontline workers will be allowed with immediate effect, confirmed a senior health ministry official on Saturday.
The one-page-order, issued by the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, comes after “various inputs received from different sources stating that in some of the vaccination centres ineligible beneficiaries are being registered as healthcare and frontline workers and getting vaccinated in complete violation of the prescribed guidelines,” noted the Health Ministry.
The order further states that there has been a 24 % increase in healthcare workers databases in the past few days.
(With inputs from our Correspondents and Agencies)
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