TLI Staff
New Delhi: Coronavirus cases in India are again on rise after seven states Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh cumulatively record around 90% of the new cases. The daily number stood at 16,738, the highest since January 29, causing the centre to depute high-level multi-disciplinary teams in these states to ascertain the reasons of surge and coordinate with the State Health Departments in COVID-19 control and containment measures.
“The Centre has also written to States/UTs to focus on undertaking aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission. The States/UT have been advised to increase testing in a focussed manner in the affected districts with the appropriate split of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests and to also ensure that all symptomatic negatives of antigen tests are compulsorily tested via RT-PCR tests. The positive persons are to be promptly isolated/hospitalised, all their close contacts be traced and also tested without delay. They have been advised to critical review the emerging situation on a regular basis with concerned District officials to ensure that gains made so far in COVID management are not lost,” said a PIB release.
India’s active caseload is 1,51,708 today comprising 1.37% of the total positive cases. Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 8,807. It is followed by Kerala with 4,106 while Punjab reported 558 new cases.
Meanwhile, the next phase of vaccination begins at March 1 and will cover people above the age of 60 and above 45 with co-morbidities. Government is in talks with private hospitals, vaccine manufacturers regarding the pricing of Covid-19 vaccinations in private hospitals and may announce it in the coming 3-4 days, as per news reports.