India records over 7830 new COVID cases, total cases now 40,215

India records over 7000 new COVID cases, total cases now 40,215

New Delhi: India recorded 7,830 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking a sharp jump from yesterday when 5675 cases were reported, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. The overall active caseload in the country currently stands at 40,215 with a daily positivity rate of 3.65 percent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.83 per cent. The death count due to COVID virus has gone up to 5,31,016 with 16 new fatalities – two each in Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and one each in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Five virus-related deaths were reconciled by Kerala, according to the health ministry data at 8 am on April 12. A total of 4692 recoveries were recorded in the last 24 hours with the recovery rate currently at 98.72 per cent and taking the overall count to 4,42,04,771.

2,14242 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests conducted so far to 92.32 crores.441 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the bulletin stated. A total of 220.66 crore total vaccine doses (95.21 crore second doses and 22.87 crore precautionary doses) have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive. Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday advised citizens not to panic amid rising Covid cases, saying that they should maintain proper hygiene.IMA, in a statement, said, “Don’t panic. We have controlled it before, We will do it now also with your support. Covid cases are rising, but don’t panic. Maintain hygiene.”

Covid-related deaths are mostly being reported in people above 60 years or those with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, among others, the statement said. It added that the likely reasons behind the rising Covid cases are a lax observance of Covid protocol and Covid-appropriate behaviour. Many people lowered their guard against the coronavirus, it claimed. People with symptoms refused to get tested, which may have allowed the virus to spread undetected and infect more people, added the statement.

The statement said, “The vaccination drive has developed a false sense of security, and so we lowered the guard against the infection. The virus that causes Covid, keeps mutating and leading to the birth of new strains such as XBB.1.16. This new variant is believed to be more transmissible as compared to the previous variants, but luckily not so lethal.” According to leading epidemiologists and virologists, the new Covid variant — XBB.1.16 — could be the reason behind the increase in cases.