Stating that there is a clear indication that contamination is a major factor in COVID-19 mortality, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) also said Tuesday that children previously thought to be better protected against the virus COVID now show some evidence of being spreaders or even super spreaders.
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“This has been seen in Mizoram, where the number of active COVID cases is small. Children (under 17 years old) make up only a very small portion (8%) of the total active cases in India, ”said ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava while speaking at a Ministry of Health press meeting on Tuesday.
Speaking about Kawasaki disease that occurs alongside COVID-19, he said that Kawasaki disease is an autoimmune disease that affects children under the age of 5. “It is less common in India. I don’t think we have had any Kawasaki experience with COVID-19 in India so far. That is a very rare condition, ” he said.
Stating that we should not be in a rush to declare ourselves free from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said the idea was to tackle the virus slowly and steadily.
“What is cause for concern now is the fact that states like Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are not showing improvement from the level we expected. 58% of the new deaths are registered in five states and territories of the Union. [Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka] in the last 24 hours, ”added Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health.
Interactive Map of Confirmed Coronavirus Cases in India
Calling COVID-19 a “malicious virus” that “continues to threaten an overwhelming [part of the] population, ”said NITI Aayog member VK Paul,“ although India’s numbers are improving, we remain vulnerable. We are seeing a second wave in various regions and the United States is seeing its third peak. “
“Winters could be playing a role as well as the fact that we are becoming lax in prevention measures. Slowing down the containment strategy also plays an important role [in the pandemic],” he said.
“The fact that even countries with much greater economic capacity, per capita income and good health systems can succumb to a great second peak is a lesson for all of us,” added Dr. Paul.
State tracker for coronavirus cases, deaths, and test rates
Fall in new cases
Speaking about COVID-19 trends in India, Mr. Bhushan said that the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in India in the past 24 hours has fallen below 36,500 (36,470) for the first time in three months. The new cases were 34,884 on July 18, 2020.
“With a large number of COVID patients recovering every day and the sustained drop in the death rate, India’s steady trend of recording active declines continues. Active cases have been reduced to 6.25 lakh, and the country’s total positive cases is 6.25,857 and now comprise 7.88% of total cases, ”he added.
The ministry said 35% of the total active cases in the country on Tuesday were reported from just 18 districts.
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“The slippage in active cases is complemented by an exponential increase in recoveries. The total number of recovered cases has exceeded 72 lakh (72,01,070). The national recovery rate has increased further to 90.62%, ”said Mr. Bhushan.
He added that 78% of new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states / UT, with Maharashtra leading the way with more than 9,000 single-day recoveries, followed by Karnataka with more than 8,000 recoveries. 76% of the new confirmed cases are from 10 states and UT, and Kerala and West Bengal have contributed the most to the new cases, with more than 4,000 cases each. Maharashtra and Karnataka follow, with more than 3,000 new cases. India’s case mortality rate (CFR) stands at 1.5%.
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