Fewer deaths during third Covid wave owing to higher vaccination rate: Centre

New Delhi, January 20

Covid mortality during the ongoing third wave is significantly lower than in the second due to high levels of vaccine uptake in the population, a Health Ministry analysis has revealed.

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A study of active cases and hospitalisations in New Delhi has further shown that the ongoing Omicron-induced wave has not caused steep rise in bed occupancy through 20 days of January.

No mask for under-5

• Masks not must for kids under-5, according to new Health Ministry norms
• Those aged 6-11 years may wear a mask depending on their ability to handle it or under supervision of elders
• Masks mandatory for children aged 12 and above

Hospitalisations in the national capital have ranged between 1,618 on January 9 when active cases were 60,733 and 2,624 today when active cases are 75,282.

On January 13, when Delhi recorded peak active cases at 94,160, it saw 2,369 hospitalisations. The ministry’s comparison of the second and third wave surge shows that on April 30, 2021, there were 3,86,452 new cases, 3,059 deaths and 31,70,228 active cases with only 2 per cent of the adults fully vaccinated. But today, there are 3,17,532 new cases, 380 deaths, 19,24,051 active cases and the proportion of fully vaccinated stands at 72 per cent. “Because of high vaccine uptake, we are not witnessing severe disease and death in the current surge,” ICMR chief Balram Bhargava said.

NITI Aayog Member (Health) VK Paul said Covid mortality in India was low due to high vaccinations—94 pc adults have received at least one dose and 72 per cent both doses as India crossed the milestone of delivering over 160 crore shots. Over 52 per cent children aged 15 to 18 years (3.84 crore) have received the first dose.

Paul said 6.5 crore Indians were still overdue for the second dose and must accept the vaccines with data clearly showing that vaccines saved lives.