The Second Wave in India seems unstoppable. The number of daily new cases crossed the 2,00,000 figure on Thursday morning, which is the highest ever anywhere in the world. Most of the burden – 81 percent cases – is from ten states with Maharashtra continuing to lead the tally. The national capital has finally imposed a weekend curfew to halt the spread. The vaccination programme, meanwhile, is going ahead full steam, adding 33 lakh doses in 24 hours.
In the 24 hours to Thursday morning, India added 2,00,739 new cases. The figure has been rising for quite some time, and this week it has been crossing the highest every figures for the world. Some 80.76% of the new cases are reported from the 10 states: Maharashtra (58,952), Uttar Pradesh (20,439), Delhi (17,282), Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
India’s total Active Caseload has reached 14,71,877. It now comprises 10.46% of the country's total Positive Cases. A net incline of 1,06,173 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the 24 hours.
The five states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala cumulatively account for 67.16% of India’s total Active Cases. Maharashtra alone accounts for43.54% of the total active caseload of the country.
Deaths
As many as 1,038 deaths were reported in the 24 hours. Ten states account for 82.27% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (278). Chhattisgarh follows with 120 daily deaths. Nine states/UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in the 24 hours. These are D&D & D&N, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Lakshadweep, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Recoveries
As many as 93,528 recoveries were registered in the 24 hours. India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,24,29,564 on Thursday. The National Recovery Rate is 88.31%.
Vaccination
The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 11.44 crore. A four-day ‘Tika Utsav’ was observed from April 11 to give boost to vaccination activities across the country covering the public and private sectors. The total vaccination figures during the Tika Utsav saw a jump of 1,28,98,314 vaccine doses being administered to people of the eligible population groups across the country.
Cumulatively, 11,44,93,238 vaccine doses have been administered through 16,98,138 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am Thursday. These include 90,64,527 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 56,04,197 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,02,13,563 frontline workers (FLWs) (first dose), 50,64,862 FLWs (second dose), 4,34,71,031 first-dose beneficiaries and 27,47,019 second-dose beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 3,74,30,078 (first dose) and 8,97,961 (second dose) beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years.
As on Day 89 of the vaccination drive (April 14), 33,13,848 vaccine doses were given, out of which, 28,77,473 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 44,864 sessions for first dose and 4,36,375 beneficiaries received second dose of vaccine.
Delhi
In the capital, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held a review meeting and then announced stricter restrictions, including the weekend curfew, beginning this Friday. During this curfew:
* Only essential services to operate
* Curfew passes for marriages & other permitted activities
* Gym, pools, malls, to be closed
* Cinema halls allowed at 30% capacity
* 1 weekly market allowed per day per zone
* Only takeaways; no dine-in restaurants
Among the CM’s other announcements on healthcare infrastructure:
* Focus is on increasing bed capacity
* Govt & Private Hospitals should link more banquet halls, etc
* Hospitals must provide real-time availability of beds on Delhi Govt App
* No patient should be turned back from hospitals
* Centre should increase 2000 beds in Central govt hospitals
* Hindu Rao & Swami Dayanand Hospital should be declared fully Covid, we will provide every assistance
* Action plan to ensure no dearth & no stocking of Remdesivir injections at any facility: CM