Covid-19 cases and deaths are on the decline in India, which is very reassuring, the center said on Tuesday, but warned of any negligence according to which an overwhelming part of the country’s population is still “very, very vulnerable” to the virus Situation could escalate unexpectedly.
While Covid-19 cases and deaths continue to increase worldwide, especially in America and Europe, and the situation in the world becomes worrying, the scene in India is satisfactory as cases and deaths decline, Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog, said a press conference here.
“Mortality is falling and is well below 400 per day. The number of cases has dropped to almost 22,000. This is the type of number we all experienced in July. So that’s very comforting. As a nation we seem to be doing very well now.
“We save lives. But remember, this cannot be taken for granted. An overwhelming part of our population is still very, very vulnerable to the virus. And the situation can escalate unexpectedly, “said Paul, warning against any negligence.
He said the comforting thing is that people are saying the R0 has fallen below you, meaning the pandemic is shrinking. “So we should be happy about it, but carefully happy,” he said.
Finding that Delhi had made progress, he said, “We congratulate the Delhi government as well as all other governments that have recently contributed so well (in cases) to such significant control.” However, Paul expressed concern on the situation of Covid-19 in some states such as Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh and stated that all efforts 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. Speaking about the preparation of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, 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.
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 are used for vaccination with Covid-19.
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 the universal vaccination programs that have been going on for decades, children and pregnant women experience some adverse effects after vaccination. “So we cannot deny the possibility of an adverse event at the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccination. In the countries where inocolution has already started, especially the UK, adverse events occurred on the first day. It is therefore important that states and union territories also prepare for this, ”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.