Next 4 weeks critical for India, second wave spreading faster than first: Niti Aayog member on Covid

"The effect of the pandemic has increased. We earlier said this pandemic can't be taken for granted... There is a serious rise in cases," Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul said.

New Delhi:Asserting that the next four weeks were critical for India as far as the spike in Covid19 cases was concerned, Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul on Tuesday said the infection in the second wave was spreading faster than the first wave.

"The effect of the pandemic has increased. We earlier said this pandemic can't be taken for granted... There is a serious rise in cases," Dr Paul said.

Terming the current wave as "the most uncommon situation", Dr Paul said 50 teams were deployed in districts of Maharastra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab, which were reporting a surge in cases and mortality rate.

Dr Paul, however, said in comparison to the population, India was witnessing a limited number of cases compared to other countries.

Referring to the ongoing Kumbh festival, Dr Paul said the district administration must adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued in this connection.

The Haridwar Kumbh Mela, that commenced on April 1, will be celebrated throughout the month.

Expressing extreme concern over the spike in Covid cases, Rajesh Bhusan, secretary in the health ministry, said cases in Maharastra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Chandigarh were a matter of serious concern.

Bhushan said the central teams will assist state health departments and local authorities in Covid19 surveillance, control and containment measures in 30 districts of Maharastra, 11 districts of Chhattisgarh and nine districts of Punjab.

"The team will submit daily reports on five aspects - testing, contact tracing, hospital infrastructure, Covid appropriate behaviour and vaccination," he said.

Bhushan also expressed concern over the fact that many states with serious concerns are were doing minimum RT PCR tests. Maharastra conducts an average of 60.1 per cent tests per day, Chhattisgarh 30.6 per cent, Gujarat 27 per cent, Delhi 63.6 per cent and Kerala 45.7 per cent. The Union Health Ministry has suggested conducting at least 70 per cent RT PCR tests per state in a day.

Statistics from the health ministry said Maharastra registered 44,624 average daily cases from March 31 to April 6 and average daily deaths of 250 during the same period. Chhattisgarh registered 4,976 average daily cases from March 31 to April 6 and average daily deaths of 38 during the same period. Punjab saw 2,793 average daily cases from March 31 to April 6 and average daily deaths of 58 during the said period.

India has, so far, witnessed 1,65,547 deaths and currently has at least 7,88,000 active cases. As many as 1,17,32,279 people have been cured.

When asked about the possibility of administering Covid-19 vaccination to all people above 18 years of age, Bhushan said the vaccination was being given on a scientific manner and priority basis.

"Our intention is to put a brake on the mortality rate and prioritise people for vaccination based on certain factors," Bhushan said. He also referred to countries such as the US, the UK, France, Sweden and Australia which have prioritised beneficiaries taking certain factors into consideration.

"No country in the world till date has started administering Covid-19 vaccination to all its people," he said.

In India, as many as 8,31,10,926 doses of vaccination have been administered to healthcare and frontline workers, and people above 45 years of age.

The health secretary, however, expressed concern over the hesitation of beneficiaries in getting the second dose of vaccine.

In Kerala, 40,30,982 people got their first dose while only 4,33,230 got the second dose. In Maharastra, 81,27,248 people were administered the first jab and only 8,29,042 decided to get their second shot. As many as 76,89,507 people in Gujarat were given the first dose and only 8,71,804 people got their second shot.