Situation particularly worrying in Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh
New Delhi: Eight States – Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have shown a steep rise in the COVID daily new cases in the last 24 hours and 81.25% of the new cases are reported from these 8 states.
While 81,466 new cases were registered and 469 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, six States accounted for 83.16% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (249). Punjab followed with 58 daily deaths.Maharashtra also reported reported the highest daily new cases at 43,183 in the last 24 hours. It was followed by Chhattisgarh with 4,617 while Karnataka reported 4,234 new cases.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba today chaired a high-level review meeting with Chief Secretaries, Director General of Police and Health Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, with focus on 11 States/UTs that have been reporting very high rise in daily cases and daily mortality because of COVID-19 in the last two weeks.
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These 11 States/UTs , which contribute 90% of COVID cases (as on 31st March) and 90.5% of deaths (as on 31st March) in last 14 days, and have crossed/or close to crossing their early reported peaks during last year, were categorised as “States of grave concern” on account of their high and rising daily case and higher daily deaths.
It was pointed out the situation was particularly worrying in Maharashtra. They were advised to take up immediate and high effective measures to ensure containment of Active Cases and Daily Deaths through adherence of the standard Clinical Management Protocol shared earlier with all States and UTs.
Another worrisome aspect pointed out was that Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities along with peri-urban areas have recorded the recent high rises in COVID cases; the spread of infection from these areas to the rural areas with weak health infrastructure would overwhelm the local administration was also highlighted.
It was further pointed out that the 11 States and UTs that are showing a surge in daily COVID cases have not shown commensurate increase in enforcement of containment activities. He urged the Chief Secretaries and DGs (Police) of the States/UTs for taking appropriate strict action in this regard.
Taking note of the present situation due to the continuous deterioration of the COVID scenario over the fortnight, the Cabinet Secretary pointed out that the current COVID case growth rate of 6.8% in March 2021 has surpassed the previous record of 5.5% (June 2020). The country also reported 5.5% growth rate in daily COVID deaths in this period. While the country was reporting about 97,000 daily new COVID cases at the peak of the pandemic in September 2020, the country has now reached the critical figure 81,000 daily new cases of COVID.
States, among other things, were also asked to examine Case Fatality Rate hospital-wise, devise appropriate strategy and mitigate concerns regarding late admission in hospitals and non-adherence to National Clinical Management Protocol. The need to formulate District Action Plans with a focus on mapping of cases, reviewing of ward/block wise indicators, 24*7 Emergency Operations Center, Incident Command System (Area Specific Rapid Response Team and Timely Sharing of information was stressed upon.
– global bihari bureau
