New Delhi: India saw a sharp spike in the number of COVID-19 patients, with 33,750 cases – highest in three months – reported ending Monday. On Sunday, the total new cases were 27,553.
Maharashtra leads the national tally with 11,877 new cases, a jump of 29 per cent from Saturday. Karnataka follows with 9,386 cases, with a surge of a whopping 241 per cent, adding 1,187 new cases in the last 24 hours. Delhi has 3,194 cases as on Monday, which rose by 2,716 in the last 24 hours. This is the city’s highest single-day spike since May 20. The positivity rate stands at 4.59 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Omicron tally in the country surged to 1,700 on Monday. Again, Maharashtra leads with infections from the new variant, reporting 510 cases so far. On Monday Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad reported 44 new Omicron cases. Delhi has 351 Omicron cases, Kerala has 156 and Karnataka 76 cases, with 10 new additions in 24 hours.
On the sunny side, the country saw a drop of 161 fatalities compared to the previous day’s tally of 284. There were 123 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate currently stands at a healthy 98.20 per cent.
On the other hand, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya deplored the under-use of COVID funds by many states. Only 17 per cent of the Centre’s funding under Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP-II) has been reportedly used to boost ICU or oxygen beds in hospitals. The possible third wave could overwhelm the country’s medical system, if measures are not taken in time, the minister warned.
Curbs In States
However, many states have started implementing stricter curbs to stem the spread of the highly contagious variant. While Maharashtra has capped the number of people at weddings, social, political, religious events and funerals; in Delhi, schools, colleges, movie theatres, yoga studios have been closed and night curfew is in place.
In Chandigarh, all restaurants, including hotels, coffee shops and other eating places have been directed to operate with 50 per cent capacity. Only those who have taken both doses of vaccine are being allowed entry.
The West Bengal government has restricted flights from New Delhi and Mumbai, and also shut schools and colleges, asking offices to operate with half their workforce. Telangana and Tamil Nadu have also put restrictions on public gatherings, meetings etc, along with closure of education institutes.
Vaccination Status
Approximately 90 per cent of India’s adult population has been inoculated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, while 63.5 per cent of the eligible population has been jabbed with the second. The government has started the vaccination drive for beneficiaries in the age bracket of 15-18 years across the country.
Cordelia Hit
In a different COVID-related development, at least 2,000 people are stuck on the Mumbai-Goa Cordelia cruise ship after a crew member tested positive from the coronavirus disease. The ship had come from Mumbai and is docked at Mormugao cruise terminal.
