Update on COVID-19

Mumbai/New Delhi, 9 February 2021

More than 63 lakh healthcare workers and frontline workers have been administered COVID -19 vaccine doses till date. At the same time, the number of active cases has gone below 1.50 lakhs and is declining further. The average daily deaths reported last week was 96. The cumulative positivity rate is 5.35% and is declining further. This has been stated by Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan in course of a media briefing on COVID-19 held at National Media Centre in New Delhi today.

Shri Bhushan further informed, Kerala contributes 45.72% and Maharashtra 25.06% of the present active cases in the country. There has been a gradual decline in the number of active cases in Maharashtra within the last one month, although Maharashtra contributes the second largest number of active cases in the country, stated the Health Secretary. But, the scenario is quite the opposite in case of Kerala, where the number of active cases has gone up in the last one month, he added. He further informed, Union Health Ministry continuously remains in touch with the states and advise them on the containment, surveillance and treatment strategies to control the number of cases.

While 1.08 crore COVID-19 cases or 7,860 cases per million have been reported till date, there has been 1.55 lakh deaths or 112 deaths per million. The number of tests conducted has touched 20.2 crores or 146,802 per million. Shri Bhushan further informed, 33 States & UTs have less than 5,000 active cases. While 15 States and UTs have reported no new deaths in the last 24 hours, 7 States and UTs had reported no deaths for three weeks. Also, 55% decline in average daily deaths have been seen in last 5 weeks. India reported only 0.5% new deaths per million in the last 7 days. This apart, there were 58 new cases per million populations reported in the last 7 days.

Vaccination:

India has completed vaccination of 6 million people within a record period of 24 days. 12 States & UTs have vaccinated more than 65% of the registered healthcare workers till date. These States/UTs are: Bihar, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, A & N Islands, Rajasthan, Kerala and Lakshadweep. On the other hand, 11 States & UTs have vaccinated less than 40% of Health Care Workers. These States/UTs are: Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Punjab, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Puducherry.

Mr. Bhushan also shared details of the first National AEFI Committee that met on 5th February 2021. He also mentioned that the two deaths reported are not related to COVID vaccination and that the details will be shared soon with the public. “We are making a standard template which will be kept in public domain for information,” he added.

Meeting of National AEFI Committee on 5th February 2021

• 8 AEFI cases following COVID-19 vaccinations discussed.

• Causality assessment of 5 cases (2 deaths and 3 hospitalized) conducted.

• All three hospitalised cases have recovered completely and have been discharged.

• 2 cases diagnosed as anaphylaxis; classified as vaccine-product related reaction (known and expected reactions following vaccinations).

• 1 case diagnosed as syncope: classified as immunization triggered stress response (anxiety reaction).

Death cases

• Acute coronary event with ventricular fibrillation – coincidental (not related to vaccination).

• Hypertensive emergency with intracranial bleed with Chronic Kidney Disease – coincidental (not related to vaccination).

• Causality assessment of 3 (death) cases deferred: Histopathology and chemical analysis report from state government is yet to received called for.

Speaking about the Pandemic situation in the country, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Dr. V.K.Paul stated that, “The current pandemic situation is satisfactory. We are very happy to note that COVID deaths reported are below 100 consistently. Also no death has been reported in Delhi for last 24 hours. This is a remarkable feat.”

Dr. Paul also cited the significance of vaccination inorder to overcome the pandemic. He pointed out that herd immunity should be gained by vaccination and not infection. “Let’s come forward in the vaccination drive and earn herd immunity through vaccination.”

He also requested all front line workers to come forward and get vaccinated and that a systematic approach is being practised to overcome adverse effects. “Systematic scientific approach is being exercised for the adverse effects being experienced by the recipients of the vaccines. 4,333 AEFI cases have been reported of 6.3 million people, which means 1 in 1400 experienced adverse effects. Vaccine hesitancy has also gone with 63 million people being vaccinated so far.”

Dr. Paul also spoke about the positive developments of vaccines in India. “India is fortunate to have two made in India vaccines and as many as 6-7 in the pipeline,” he said.

He also mentioned that protecting our health care system, our front line workers and also the larger population from not being a candidate for mortality even if they get infected by COVID-19 is the priority.

The presentation made by Health Secretary in today’s briefing can be accessed here.

RT/SC/DL/PM