New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry said on Thursday that in the last one week, an average of 26,49,005 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the world every day. Along with this, the ministry also said that the cases are decreasing. Between 26 January and 1 February, 31,44,622 cases were coming daily, now they are decreasing. Joint Health Secretary Lav Aggarwal said that cases are continuously decreasing in 140 countries and 40% of cases are coming from 10 countries.
Lav Aggarwal said that cases are decreasing continuously in America, France, Italy, and Spain. About India, he told that there are 7,90,789 active cases in India. Last week, an average of 96,392 cases were being reported daily. Aggarwal said that on January 21, 3,47,254 cases had come in the country in a day, now 80% cases have come down, now 67,084 cases have been reported.
More than 2.5 lakh active cases in Kerala
Regarding the Covid positivity rate in the country, Agarwal said that now it has come down to 4.44%. He said that the number of states with more than 50 thousand active cases has come down from 8 to 4. At the same time, there are less than 10 thousand active cases in 21 states. Agarwal said that there are more than 2.5 lakh active cases in Kerala. There are more than 61% active cases in 4 states. At the same time, the case and positivity rate is continuously decreasing in 34 states. He said that cases are decreasing in Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Aggarwal said that the positivity rate in 160 districts is 5 to 10%. At the same time, the number of districts with less than 5% positivity rate has come down to 433 from 268 earlier.
Giving information on Covid vaccination, Lav Aggarwal said, ‘So far 96% of people in the country have been given the first dose, while about 78 percent of people have taken the second dose.’ 1.61 crore has been reached. Aggarwal said that in 16 states, 100 percent of people have taken the first dose of the vaccine.
Mandatory RT-PCR over, random sampling will continue
At the same time, regarding the new travel guidelines, Lav Aggarwal said that from today international travel advisory has been issued. People coming from 82 countries where Covishield and Covaxin have been given will have to upload the vaccine certificate. He said that the list of countries with high risk has been removed. Aggarwal said that earlier it was necessary for every passenger coming from the risk countries to undergo RT-PCR, now no passenger will be stopped. Agarwal said that random sampling of 2% will continue. Along with this, travelers coming from abroad will do self-monitoring for 14 days as well as follow 7 days of home quarantine.
On the other hand, NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul said that the situation is getting better and there are good signs. For the last four days, less than 1 lakh cases are coming. The positivity rate has come down to below 5%. Paul said that Kerala has a 29% positivity rate, cases are still in critical condition in Mizoram, Himachal, Arunachal Sikkim.
He told that the positivity rate is increasing in 40 districts of the North East. That is, the danger is not completely averted yet. Paul said that we still have to be careful. According to WHO also the threat of the future is not over. Viruses can be smart.
