People queue up to get themselves inoculated with the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at a residential settlement in Mumbai
(AFP via Getty Images)
India’s government has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is “still raging” in the country as there has been an uptick in economic activities, amid the threat of a looming third wave.
The R-factor — the reproductive rate of a virus — has risen in eight states in a “significant problem” and the more transmissible Delta variant-driven second wave is still not over in the country, said Dr VK Paul, who heads the government’s Covid task force.
“Delta variant is a dominant problem. The pandemic is still raging and the second wave is persisting in our own country,” Dr Paul said. “Please remember that R number should be 0.6 or below. If it has gone over 1, it shows it is a significant problem and the virus wants to spread.”
India is continuing to report more than 30,000 cases every day on average with researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) estimating that the country would see a third wave in August with maximum 150,000 cases. The researchers said it may peak in October.
Meanwhile, China has announced mass testing of Covid-19 of all residents of Wuhan and has suspended flights and trains as delta variant-driven outbreak reached the city. 11 million people in Wuhan will undergo testing as new cases are reported.
Australia has reported death in country’s one of the youngest citizens in Sydney which is at the centre of outbreak. A man in his 20’s was unvaccinated and died at home. This comes as Sydney reported 233 new cases on Wednesday, adding to the state’s total tally of 4,000 Covid-19 cases.
China to test Wuhan’s 11 million residents amid new Covid outbreak
China will undertake mass-scale testing for the entire 11 million population of Wuhan city, the first place in the world to report coronavirus infections.
The announcement came after three new cases were confirmed in Wuhan on Monday.
Shweta Sharma4 August 2021 06:33
India govt’ says sero survey cannot be used to claim under-reporting
India’s central government pushed back against claims of under-reporting of Covid-19 deaths, saying it is “unscientific and irrational” to conclude from sero survey that infections and deaths were under-reported.
Dr VK Paul said 80 per cent of Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic and are not detected in tests. But they are detected during the national sero survey – studies to detect presence of antibodies against Covid-19 in the population.
“Sero surveys are carried out for the specific purpose of enunciating how many people have antibodies and previous exposure to Covid-19. Exposure does not mean that a serious disease happened or hospitalisation or there was a life-threatening situation,” Dr Paul said.
“Also, sero survey includes a huge number of asymptomatic patients. To predict mortality by extrapolating that data is irrational, misplaced and unscientific,” he added.
This came as the Indian government was accused of under-reporting cases and deaths during the second wave of pandemic.
Shweta Sharma4 August 2021 06:12
India reports 40% higher single-day surge
India’s new Covid-19 infections surged again with 42,625 new cases on Tuesday, the health ministry said.
The increase of nearly 40 per cent cases is reported from yesterday as government raised alarm over the “still raging” pandemic while the researchers warned of looming third wave in August.
India also added 562 new deaths, adding to the total count of 425,195 Covid deaths across the country. The country’s Covid infection tally now stands at 31,769,132.
Southern state of Kerala reported highest-single day surge with 13,984 new cases while Maharashtra which was at the centre of raging pandemic in India saw 4,869 new infections.
Shweta Sharma4 August 2021 05:54
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic for Wednesday 4 August, 2021.
Shweta Sharma4 August 2021 05:09
