NEW DELHI: Covid-19 cases and deaths are declining in India, which is very reassuring, the Center said Tuesday, but cautioned against any laxity, saying that an overwhelming proportion of the country’s population remains “very, very susceptible “to the virus and that the situation could escalate unexpectedly.
While there is a continuous increasing trend in Covid-19 cases and deaths globally, particularly in America and Europe, and the situation in the world is becoming worrisome, in contrast, the scene in India is satisfactory as the cases and Deaths are declining, Dr. VK Paul, NITI Aayog (health) member, said at a press conference here.
“Mortality is declining and is well below 400 a day. Cases have dropped to almost 22,000. This is the kind of number that we all experienced in July. So it is very reassuring. As a nation, it seems that now we are doing good.
“We are saving lives. But remember, this cannot be taken for granted. An overwhelming proportion of our population is still very highly susceptible to the virus. And the situation can escalate unexpectedly,” Paul said while warning against any laxity.
He further said that what is reassuring is that people say that the R0 has dropped from one, which means that the pandemic is slowing down.
“So we should be happy about that, but cautiously happy,” he said.
Noting that Delhi has made progress, he said: “We congratulate the Delhi government as well as all other governments who have done so well in contributing to such significant control (in cases) in recent times.”
Paul, however, expressed concern about the Covid-19 situation in some states such as Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Himachal Pradesh and stated that all efforts to control the spread are being done in collaboration with these governments.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that more than 15.55 million tests for the detection of coronavirus infection have been carried out so far in the country, and the cumulative positivity rate has dropped to 6, 37, while the average daily rate of positivity during the past week was 3.00%.
India’s fatal case rate (CFR) is also among the lowest in the world. Currently, India’s CFR is 1.45 percent, while globally it is 2.26 percent, Bhushan said.
Speaking about preparing for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, Bhushan said that guidelines for the estimation of electrical and non-electrical cold chain equipment and their strengthening have been issued to states.
Guidelines have been published for cold chain management at the last cold chain points and session sites.
At least 29,000 cold chain points, 240 cold rooms, 70 cold rooms, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 freezers, and 300 solar refrigerators will be used for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
States have been asked to identify at least one Post Immunization Adverse Event Management Center (AEFI) in each block.
“Adverse events after vaccination are critical. Even during universal immunization programs, which have been going on for decades, some adverse effects are seen in children and pregnant women after vaccination.
“Therefore, we cannot deny the possibility of an adverse event when Covid-19 vaccination begins. In countries where inoculation has already started, especially in the UK, adverse events occurred on the first day. Therefore, it is essential that union states and territories also prepare for this, “said Bhushan.
Detailed instructions on infection prevention and control practices during vaccination and the management of post-vaccination serious, serious and minor adverse events (AEFI) have been issued to states.
While there is a continuous increasing trend in Covid-19 cases and deaths globally, particularly in America and Europe, and the situation in the world is becoming worrisome, in contrast, the scene in India is satisfactory as the cases and Deaths are declining, Dr. VK Paul, NITI Aayog (health) member, said at a press conference here.
“Mortality is declining and is well below 400 a day. Cases have dropped to almost 22,000. This is the kind of number that we all experienced in July. So it is very reassuring. As a nation, it seems that now we are doing good.
“We are saving lives. But remember, this cannot be taken for granted. An overwhelming proportion of our population is still very highly susceptible to the virus. And the situation can escalate unexpectedly,” Paul said while warning against any laxity.
He further said that what is reassuring is that people say that the R0 has dropped from one, which means that the pandemic is slowing down.
“So we should be happy about that, but cautiously happy,” he said.
Noting that Delhi has made progress, he said: “We congratulate the Delhi government as well as all other governments who have done so well in contributing to such significant control (in cases) in recent times.”
Paul, however, expressed concern about the Covid-19 situation in some states such as Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Himachal Pradesh and stated that all efforts to control the spread are being done in collaboration with these governments.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that more than 15.55 million tests for the detection of coronavirus infection have been carried out so far in the country, and the cumulative positivity rate has dropped to 6, 37, while the average daily rate of positivity during the past week was 3.00%.
India’s fatal case rate (CFR) is also among the lowest in the world. Currently, India’s CFR is 1.45 percent, while globally it is 2.26 percent, Bhushan said.
Speaking about preparing for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, Bhushan said that guidelines for the estimation of electrical and non-electrical cold chain equipment and their strengthening have been issued to states.
Guidelines have been published for cold chain management at the last cold chain points and session sites.
At least 29,000 cold chain points, 240 cold rooms, 70 cold rooms, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 freezers, and 300 solar refrigerators will be used for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
States have been asked to identify at least one Post Immunization Adverse Event Management Center (AEFI) in each block.
“Adverse events after vaccination are critical. Even during universal immunization programs, which have been going on for decades, some adverse effects are seen in children and pregnant women after vaccination.
“Therefore, we cannot deny the possibility of an adverse event when Covid-19 vaccination begins. In countries where inoculation has already started, especially in the UK, adverse events occurred on the first day. Therefore, it is essential that union states and territories also prepare for this, “said Bhushan.
Detailed instructions on infection prevention and control practices during vaccination and the management of post-vaccination serious, serious and minor adverse events (AEFI) have been issued to states.
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