India's New Covid Cases Up By 14 Per Cent In A Day, Tally Past 80 Lakh

The country’s one-day coronavirus tally rose by almost 14 per cent with a jump of about 50,000 new COVID-19 infections taking its overall Covid numbers past the 80 lakh mark, the Health Ministry data shows. In the last 24 hours, the country reported 49,881 new cases of coronavirus as the total number of infected people till now shot to 80,40,203. The case rise reflects in the positivity rate, which was 4.6 per cent against Tuesday’s 4.1 per cent.

1. The rise in new infections reflects the spread of the disease in some states as authorities brace for a new wave in the pandemic after Diwali, when the winter sets in.
2. The list of states with highest cases is led by Kerala (8790), followed by Maharashtra (6,738), Delhi (5,673), West Bengal (3,924) and Karnataka (3,146), of which the first three states logged significantly higher Covid infections than on Tuesday. Together they account for 56 per cent of all cases reported yesterday.
3. The unprecedented surge in Delhi has raised concerns, especially since the national Covid tally was showing a steady decline. The central government is expected to hold a meeting with top officials today to discuss prevention and suppression measures in Delhi.
4. Chhattisgarh and the five states with highest daily cases, barring Kerala, also reported the highest number of deaths in the last 24 hours, together accounting for 58 per cent of all deaths in the past day – 517.
5. Overall Covid-related fatalities in India now stand at 1.2 lakh. More than 73 lakh people have recovered from the disease and 6 lakh people are receiving treatment.
6. India – the second worst Covid affected country in the world – has one of the world’s lowest death rates.
7. However, experts are worried that a potential surge amid a rise in air pollution across northern states because of stubble burning and celebratory burning of firecrackers, accentuated by winter, could affect the severity of the disease and the death rate.
8. Many countries in the northern hemisphere, including Spain and France – now the fifth worst-hit nation in the world with almost 13 lakh cases – have seen a fresh surge in cases because of the change in season.
9. In his recent speeches, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly warned the country of 1.3 billion people against being “careless” in giving up social distancing and other precautions, such as wearing masks.
10. Studies have also shown that a small but rising number of people have fallen ill with Covid-19 twice, and it’s not clear how long antibody protection from any vaccine would last.