A total of 4,435 fresh Covid-19 infections were reported across the country in the last 24 hours, a significant jump from Tuesday’s tally of 3038 cases, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.
It is the highest single-day rise in the last nearly six months, the ministry said. India’s active Covid caseload currently stands at 23,091 with a daily positivity rate of 3.38 per cent, the ministry said. The Covid-19 cases in India have seen an upward trend in the past few days with the daily fresh infections ranging between 2,994 on 1 April to 3,824 on 2 April and 3,641 on 3 April and 3038 on 4 April.
The toll has risen to 5,30,892 with 11 deaths — three from Maharashtra and one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan — recorded in a 24-hour span. The toll also includes four deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data stated.
With 2,508 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries stands at 4,41,79,712. India’s recovery rate currently is at 98.76 per cent, the union ministry further stated. Under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive, India has so far administered 220.65 crore Covid vaccine doses of which 1,979 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.
The ministry further stated that the weekly positivity rate currently stands at 2.79 per cent.
In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in India, the new Covid variant poses less risk and is unlikely to result in increase in hospitalisations but people need to remain vigilant, according to a top Union Health Ministry official.
“New strains keep coming after mutation..this is a new variant which has come..this would not lead to increase in hospitalisations so there is low risk associated with it,” the top official said on Monday. The strain has been isolated in the laboratory and a study has also been done on it, he added. “But even then there is a need to remain vigilant,” the official said. Further, he noted that the current surge in the Covid cases could be attributed to the spread of the XBB 1.16 variant in the country. Earlier on Monday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that Omicron’s sub-variant which is circulating in the country has not led to an increase in hospitalisations and there is no need to worry.
“We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron which is circulating in the country hasn’t increased hospitalisations,” Mandaviya said. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued revised guidelines for Covid in the wake of the surge of cases in the past week across the country.
“Antibiotics should not be used unless there is clinical suspicion of bacterial infection. The possibility of coinfection of Covid-19 with other endemic infections must be considered. Systemic corticosteroids are not indicated in mild disease,” revised guidelines said.
