Daily deaths over 300 for first time this year, 62K new cases

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

India’s daily Covid-19 cases surged to 62,714 while the daily death count breached the 300-mark, the highest this year. The steady rise in active cases continued with the load reaching 4,86,310 after 18 days of consistent surge.

The active cases now make up 4.06 per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate dropped to 94.58 per cent as total infections in the country reached 1,19,71,624 and the toll touched 1,61,552 after 312 daily deaths.

In Punjab, record 69 deaths in 24 hrs

Punjab reported record 69 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest during the second spike in a single day. The govt said jabs would now be administered at all health and wellness centres, homoeopathy and ayurvedic dispensaries

Health Ministry data show daily deaths were the highest today since December 25, 2020, when 336 persons had died in 24 hours.

Even as Covid vaccinations crossed the 6-crore mark on Sunday to settle at 6,02,69,782, the Centre again sent out reminders to high-burden Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which reported 81.46 per cent of new cases today.

Maharashtra reported the highest number of fresh cases at 35,726, followed by Chhattisgarh (3,162), Karnataka (2,886) and Punjab (2,805).

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked 12 high-burden states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab and Bihar) to increase testing exponentially with RT PCR accounting for 70 per cent of total tests; trace, test and isolate average 30 close contacts in the first 72 hours; energise public-private partnership; ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and muted celebrations of Holi, Shab-e-baraat and Easter; optimally use vaccines.

“While 90 per cent people in these 46 districts are aware that masks were important, 44 per cent are actually wearing masks. In the absence of any restriction, one infected person can spread Covid to 406 individuals in 30 days. This can be reduced to just 15 persons by decreasing physical exposure to 50 per cent and to 2.5 persons by decreasing it to 75 per cent,” the Health Ministry told the states.

Five directives to high-burden states

• Increase testing exponentially with RT-PCR accounting for 70% of total tests
• Trace, test and isolate average 30 close contacts of every Covid patient in the first 72 hours
• Ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and optimal use of vaccines
• Muted celebrations of Holi, Shab-e-Barat and Easter
• Energise public-private partnership

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