IMA cites 3 reasons behind recent surge in Covid-19 cases

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday cautioned that the recent spike in Covid cases could due to the relaxation of virus-appropriate behaviour, low testing rates, and the emergence of a new variant of the virus.

The statement comes on a day India reported 5,880 new Covid cases, slightly increasing from Sunday's count of 5,357, according to data released by Union Health Ministry.

"The reasons behind the recent Covid surge in our country may be the relaxation of Covid-19 appropriate behavior, the low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus infection," IMA said in a statement.

According to the daily health bulletin shared by the ministry, active cases currently stand at 35,199 with a daily positivity rate of 6.91 per cent.

The death toll has increased to 5,30,979 with 14 deaths. While four deaths each were reported from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, one each was reported from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and two reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.91 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 3.67 per cent.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,62,496) The active cases now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,96,318 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Following the surge, the Centre has urged people to wear masks in crowded places and complete their vaccination doses.

The ministry has advised state governments to examine the covid-19 situation at a micro level (district and sub-districts) and maintain focus on the implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of covid-19 duly ensuring effective compliance.

"The five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track Treat-Vaccination should be followed with a continued focus on adequate & proactive testing as per guidelines, monitoring new and emerging clusters of new Covid-19 cases along with monitoring the trend of Influenza-like illness (ILI) & SARI cases in all health facilities or through dedicated fever clinics on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection," the health ministry.