Covid-19: 3rd Wave Can Be Avoided if Strong Measures Are Taken, Says Govt's Scientific Advisor

A third wave of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic could be avoided if we took strong measures to control it, the government’s Principal Scientific Advisor Dr K VijayRaghavan said on Friday. “If we take strong measures, the third wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere at all. It depends much on how effectively the guidance is implemented at the local level, in the states, in districts and in the cities everywhere,” Dr VijayRaghavan said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Dr VijayRaghavan had cautioned the country to prepare for another wave following a rise in infections. “Phase three is inevitable given the higher levels of circulating virus, but it is not clear on what time-scale this phase three will occur. We should be prepared for new waves,” he had said.

Covid Positivity Rate Above 15% in 24 States

As the country continues to battle a second wave of coronavirus, 12 states have over one lakh active Covid-19 cases each at the present, while the count is between 50,000 and one lakh in 7, the Health Ministry said on Friday. The positivity rate is currently above 15 per cent in 24 states in the country and in the range of 5-15 per cent in nine, the ministry said.

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh are among states and union territories showing continued plateauing or decrease in daily new Covid-19 cases. However, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha are among those showing an upward trend in daily new cases of the infection, the ministry added.

The Health Ministry also asked the states to prioritise beneficiaries awaiting their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, and ensure timely completion of the recommended vaccination schedule.

10 States Account For Over 71% of New Cases

Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, account for 71.81 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases reported in a day, the Union Health Ministry said. India saw a record 4,14,188 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day pushing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,14,91,598, according to the data updated on Friday morning.

Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan are the other states in the list of 10. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 62,194. It is followed by Karnataka with 49,058 while Kerala reported 42,464 new cases.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh,Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar cumulatively account for 81.04 per cent of India’s total active cases. One-fourth of total active cases concentrated in only 10 districts.

Besides, 3,915 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours. Ten states account for 74.48 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (853). Uttar Pradesh follows with 350 daily deaths. India’s cumulative recoveries have surged to 1,76,12,351 with 3,31,507 recoveries being registered in a span of 24 hours. Ten states account for 72.47 per cent of the new recoveries.

States to Receive Additional 10L Vaccine Doses in 3 Days

More than 90 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs and they will receive over 10 lakh more vaccine doses within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. The Centre has so far provided more than 17.35 crore (17,35,07,770) vaccine doses to states and UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 16,44,77,100 doses, according to official data made available at 8 am.

“More than 90 lakh (90,30,670) COVID vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. States with negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to armed forces, the ministry said.

“Furthermore, more than 10 lakh (10,25,000) vaccine doses will be received in addition by the states and UTs within the next three days,” it said in a statement.

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