New Delhi: India has recorded 10,542 fresh coronavirus cases, while the active cases have increased to 63,562, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday (April 19). Nearly 38 more fatalities have been reported, taking the death toll to 5,31,190. The COVID case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.39 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 5.1 per cent.
The active cases now comprise 0.14 per cent of the total infections. The active cases in the country now stand at 63,562. Amid the surge in cases, several states issue guidelines and urge citizens to adhere to them.
Also Read: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Lays Stress On Following Covid Safety Norms
WEST BENGAL
The West Bengal Health Department has issued a COVID-19 advisory urging the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with comorbidities to avoid crowded places. It stated that though the prevailing coronavirus strains in the state are known to cause mild symptoms, in some cases, but complications may arise, especially among very aged people and those with “compromised immunity”.
The health department also advised people who had not taken the precautionary COVID vaccine to get jabbed. The advisory further added,
The currently circulating strains of COVID-19 in the state are known to cause just mild symptoms. However, in a small proportion, the disease may aggravate and cause complications, especially in the very elderly, people with comorbidities (diseases of the heart, kidney, liver, lungs, or diabetes), and those with compromised immunity (cancer or HIV patients, people on long-course steroids, or people on other immunosuppressive drugs).
It requested that these vulnerable people avoid mass gatherings as far as possible to avoid complications.
Very old people, those with comorbidities, and pregnant women should keep away from individuals suffering from fever, cold, and cough, the health department advisory said, while also calling upon people to use soap and sanitiser more frequently and inculcate the habit among children.
TRIPURA
People arriving in Tripura from Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, WHO have reported a high positivity rate will have to undergo a mandatory COVID test, a senior health official said on Wednesday.
All domestic incoming passengers from the states with high COVID-positivity rate shall have to be mandatorily tested on their arrival at the airport, railway stations and the Churaibari check gate,” the official said.
Wearing masks in hospitals has been made a must and the screenings will also be conducted at all public places, the official added.
DELHI
Delhi continues to log the highest numbers of coronavirus infections, with 1,537 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, and a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent, according to the Delhi Health Department. With the new cases, the national capital’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 20,25,781. Five fresh fatalities have pushed the death toll due to the viral disease to 26,572.
From 932 cases on March 30 to 4,976 up until April 17, the active coronavirus cases in Delhi have registered a jump of more than 430 per cent in nearly three weeks, the government health department stated.
MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra recorded 949 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, while six more patients succumbed to the infection in the state, according to the state health department. With these additions, the state’s overall COVID-19 tally rose to 81,57,293, while the death toll increased to 1,48,485.
The bulletin said that at present, the XBB.1.16 variant of Omicron is the dominant strain in the state. The number of patients detected with this variant stood at 681, while four deaths linked to the strain have been reported in the state.
Among all the cities, Mumbai reported one of the highest numbers of infections, with 220 new COVID-19 cases. The city crossed the 200-mark after a gap of two days, taking the overall tally to 11,60,902.
TAMIL NADU
In a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the Tamil Nadu government has announced restrictions from April 20, including a night ‘curfew’ between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and a complete lockdown on all Sundays. Puducherry reported 84 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours and one death, a 73-year-old man. The active cases in the union territory were 503.
MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pradesh reported 57 fresh cases of COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department. With this, the number of active cases in the state has gone up to 322, it said.
Speaking to ANI, Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said,
We are keeping a check on each and every patient. We are providing them better treatment. We have also conducted mock drills in the past to look after the arrangements and facilities to deal with any surge in COVID-19 cases. We have all possible arrangements in place for the same.
Speaking of the rising coronavirus cases in the country, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday (April 18) stressed on collectively breaking the cycle of panic and not letting pandemic fatigue diminish the country’s efforts of preparedness against the coronavirus situation.
Nationwide, the number of people who have recovered from the disease rose to 4,42,50,649 and national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.67 per cent. So far, around 220.66 crore doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive.
Also Read: Covid Entering Endemic Stage In India, Cases Likely To Start Subsiding After 10-12 Days
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
