New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family on Tuesday expressed serious concern after 58 percent of new deaths were reported in five states including Delhi in the last 24 hours.
The Ministry further said that 49.4 percent of new cases were reported in five states and Union Territories during festival seasons.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan said, "The spike in cases in last 24 hours is a matter of concern. We are in touch with all states."
Statistics said that Maharastra, West Bengal, Chhatisgarh and Karnataka are the four states where maximum deaths and new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours.
He said that Kerala and West Bengal have been witnessing the second peak of COVID-19 and Delhi might be witnessing the third peak of the pandemic.
Expressing similar concern, VK Paul, member, Niti Aayog has said the presence of even one positive case in clusters or groups of people is very serious.
"For one positive case, at least 15 contracts should be quarantined. Contacts of super spreader events should be quarantined. We have to avoid such super spreader events as there may be laxity in maintaining COVID-19 protocol," said Paul.
However, 10 states including Maharastra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Union Territories across India have reported 86 percent of total deaths top three.
Bhushan said that COVID-19 recovery rate in India has now touched 90.62 percent with positivity rate declining to 7.61 percent. India has conducted more than 10 crore tests till date.
Bhushan said India's Covid19 cases per million population is amongst the lowest in the world.
"There has been a continuous decline in average daily new deaths for the last five weeks," said Bhusan.
Average daily new COVID-19 cases was 83,232 between Sept 23 and 29. It came down to 49,909 between Oct 21 and 27. He said that 10 lakh Indians recovered in 13 days.
Referring to the increasing cases among children and Kawasaki disease in Mizoram, Health Secretary Bhushan said that children could be super spreaders and asymptomatic too.
"However, Kawasaki disease which affects children below 5 years of age, hardly has its presence in India," said Bhushan.
He said that the Health Ministry has opened an online platform for doctors and nurses for COVID-19 training.
On the issue of distribution of free vaccine distribution, VK Paul said the central government has asked the state governments to wait as it plans for a 'national approach' for vaccine distribution.
"If the production of vaccine is not unlimited, prioritisation should be done accordingly. Resources will not be an issue in accessing the vaccine," said Paul.
Talking about COVID-19 Vaccine trials, Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said vaccine candidates of Oxford, Bharat Biotech and Zydas Cadila are doing well.
"At least four to five indigenous COVID-19 vaccines are in the race and they are in the pre-clinical stage," said Bhargava.
When asked whether pollution could be a major reason for COVID-19 related deaths, Bhargava said pollution is related to mortality.
"A few studies done recently have found dead virus in particles of pollution. We have come to understand that pollution is a major contributor for mortality, " said Bhargava.
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