India on Sunday registered 45,083 new Covid-19 infections taking the total tally to 3,26,95,030, while active cases registered an increase for the fifth consecutive day, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. The number of new cases has been above the 40,000 mark for the fourth consecutive day.
In the last 24 hours, active cases increased by 8,783, taking the active caseload to 3,68,558, which comprises 1.13 percent of the total infections.
Five states accounted for 89.17 percent of the total cases, with Kerala contributing 31,265 cases in the past 24 hours, followed by Maharashtra with 4,831 cases, Tamil Nadu with 1,551 cases, Andhra Pradesh with 1,321 cases and Karnataka with 1,229 cases. Meanwhile, 10 states/UTs have reported a rise in active cases.
Of the total new cases recorded in the country, Kerala reported 31,265 new COVID cases and 153 deaths on Saturday. As many as 35,840 patients recovered in the country from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 3,18,88,642. The current recovery rate is at 97.53 per cent.
In a bid to curb the transmission of Covid-19 in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pnarayi Vijayan on Saturday said the state will impose a night curfew starting on August 30, from 10 pm to 6 am.
The state government will also convene the Covid meeting of experts on September 1 in the fields to assess the current situation and its features and formulate a strategy to move forward.
Meanwhile, Medanta Chairman and Managing Director Dr Naresh Trehan on Sunday cautioned against the re-opening of schools and said that since the vaccine is around the corner, the government should wait for two-three months till the children get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Speaking to ANI Dr Trehan said, “I believe that we should be a lot more cautious. And the fact is that the vaccine is now around the corner because the drug controller just approved the Zydus vaccine. So even if people get one dose, we know that the protection goes up 30 per cent to 50 per cent. So, we should be patient for another two-three months till the vaccine arrives, children get vaccinated, and then they should be allowed to go to school but it seems we are in a rush right now to open schools.”
Dr Trehan’s remarks came as the Delhi government announced the re-opening of schools in the national capital from September 1 for classes 9-12. But, students will need parents consent and no one will be forced to attend the classes. Some groups of doctors, academicians called for an immediate resumption of in-person classes in schools.
On 23 August, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday approved Zydus Cadila’s DNA vaccine for emergency use in adults and children aged 12 years and above.