At 61K, sharpest drop in daily Covid cases

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 6

India today saw the sharpest month-long decline in daily new Covid cases with 61,267 infections over 24 hours as against an average of 90,000 plus seen through the first week of September. As the Covid caseload reached, 66,85,082, lowering trends in daily new cases firmed up with the Health Ministry data showing stable decline in week on week average new cases starting September 2.

“Since the week starting September 2, there have been consistent and stable declining trends in daily new cases on a week to week basis,” Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, adding India’s total recoveries of 56,62,490 were the highest worldwide, and the national cumulative tests of eight crore were the second highest globally. India saw 75,787 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

The daily new cases initially rose from 84,179 through September 2-8 to 92,830 (September 9-15) and then declined to 90,346 (September 16-22), 83,232 (September 23-29) and 77,113 (September 30-October 6).

The national toll has reached 1,03,569 after 884 deaths in a day. The Health Ministry data reveals that out of total deaths, 48% are in 25 districts of eight states, including Ludhiana in Punjab.

“Among the 25 districts carrying high death burden, 15 are in Maharashtra,” Bhushan said. These 25 districts are Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Chennai, Bengaluru Urban, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kolhapur, Nashik, Sangli, Mumbai Suburban, Raigad, Satara, Jalagaon, Solapur, 24 Paraganas North, Aurangabad, Musuru, Surat, Ludhiana, Palghar, Ahmednagar and Chittoor.

The Health Secretary added that the active cases (9,19,023 today) had remained below 10 lakh for two weeks starting September 23, a positive sign for disease management.

He warned against laxity in the upcoming festive season saying, “New cases in Kerala have seen the sharpest rise nationally from 22,133 in the week starting September 8 to 84,958 now. This is linked to Onam festivities.”

In another stable trend, India’s average daily positivity on a week to week basis declined from 8.28% in the week starting September 2 to 6.82% in the latest week.

Of all active cases, 77% are in 10 states and 50% in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

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Firm told to modify Sputnik trial protocol

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the drug controller had asked Dr Reddy’s, Indian partner of Russia for Sputnik-V vaccine trial, to modify its trial protocol. “The controller will take a decision on the request for trials in India after the firm submits the modified protocol,” he added.