India’s Covid-19 cases surge, 19 deaths in 7 days

India recorded as many as 918 fresh Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours taking the active caseload of the disease to 6,350, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday morning.

The increase comes on top of 1,000 fresh coronavirus cases recorded on Sunday.

Coronavirus cases have doubled over the last week and 19 deaths have been recorded during this period, giving rise to considerable concern.

Most of the cases have been recorded in the western and southern states but Covid infections have begun rising in the northern states as well.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 1,165 in the last 7 days.  Delhi has recorded 235 cases.

Kerala, Karnataka, and Gujarat are the other states with a high count of Covid-19 infections in the current surge.

India’s daily average new Covid cases are up six times in a month. Average daily new cases a month ago (Feb 18) was 112 while now (March 18) it’s 626.

The Centre is worried over the surge in Covid-19 cases in 6 states. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday wrote to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka asking them to step up testing, treating, tracking, and vaccination to control the spread of Covid-19 cases.

“There are few states which are reporting higher number of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection and there is a need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” the letter said.

Scientists are of the view that it is the milder omicron version of coronavirus and its sub-lineages that are currently circulating in India. The fact that most Indians have now been vaccinated is also helping to slow the spread of the disease.

According to the health ministry’s website, 220.65 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.