The current death rate in India is 1.45 percent and worldwide it is 2.26 percent. (File)
New Delhi:
COVID-19 cases and deaths are declining in India, which is very comforting, the center said Tuesday, but warned of any negligence, saying an overwhelming part of the country’s population is still “very vulnerable” to the virus and the Situation could escalate unexpectedly.
While there is an increasing trend in COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide, particularly in the US and Europe, and the situation in the world is becoming worrying, the scene in India is satisfactory as cases and deaths decline, UK Paul, Member (health) at NITI Aayog said at a press conference.
“Mortality is falling, well below 400 a day. The number of cases has dropped to nearly 22,000. This is the kind of number we all saw in July. So that’s very comforting. As a nation, we seem very now plenty to do well, “he said.
“We save lives. But remember, this cannot be taken for granted. An overwhelming part of our population is still very susceptible to the virus. And the situation can escalate unexpectedly,” said Paul, warning of any negligence.
He said the comforting thing is that people say the R0, which represents the number of new infections estimated to have come from a single incident, has dropped below one, meaning the pandemic is shrinking.
“So we should be happy about it, but carefully happy,” he said.
Finding that Delhi has made progress, he said: “We congratulate the Delhi government as well as all other governments that have recently (in cases) contributed so well to such significant control.”
However, Mr Paul expressed concern about the COVID-19 situation in some states such as Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh and stated that every effort to control the spread will be made in cooperation with these governments.
Union Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan said more than 15.55 crore tests to detect coronavirus infection have been conducted in the country to date and the cumulative positivity rate has dropped to 6.37, while the average daily positivity rate has been over the past week 3.00 percent.
India’s Case Fatality Rate (CFR) is also among the lowest in the world. Currently, the CFR is 1.45 percent in India and 2.26 percent globally, Bhushan said.
Regarding the preparation of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Mr Bhushan said guidelines for the estimation of electrical and non-electrical cold chain devices and their amplification have been issued to states.
Guidelines for the management of the cold chain at the last cold chain points and meeting locations have been issued.
The COVID-19 vaccination drive uses at least 29,000 cold chain points, 240 walk-in refrigerators, 70 walk-in freezers, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 freezers and 300 solar refrigerators.
States were asked to identify at least one adverse event according to the Immunization Management Center (AEFI) in each block.
“Post-immunization adverse events are a critical issue. Even during universal immunization programs that have been in place for decades, children and pregnant women experience some adverse effects after vaccination,” he said.
“Therefore, we cannot deny the possibility of an adverse event at the start of COVID-19 vaccination. In those countries where inocolution has already started, particularly the UK, adverse events occurred on the first day, so this is essential . ” that states and union territories are also preparing for it, “said Bhushan.
Detailed instructions on the prevention and control of infection during vaccination and the management of minor, severe and serious post-immunization adverse events (AEFI) have been issued to states.