About 48 per cent of the total Covid-19 deaths in the country is concentrated in eight States of 25 districts, of which 15 districts are in Maharashtra alone, the Government said on Tuesday. The target is to bring the fatality rate below 1 per cent, it maintained.
Giving figures on Covid deaths in the country at a press briefing here, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “Out of 25 districts in eight States, 15 districts are in one state alone, that is Maharashtra. Two districts each are in Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat and one each in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, UP and Andhra Pradesh.”
The Ministry is in talks with these states to control the deaths due to the pathogen, Bhushan told the reporters. He was of the view that the deaths in these identified districts were not due to poor health infrastructure but because of delay in treatment.
The States have been asked to enhance tests and thus detection so that those needing the treatment are given adequate medical facilities. “Delay in treatment can progress the disease and hence deaths,” Bhushan said even as he added that the States were having enough supply of oxygen and other infrastructure to manage the disease. More than 8 crore COVID tests have been conducted so far, of which 80 lakh tests were done in the last week
While talking about the spread of Covid-19 in the country, he said that ten States account for 77 per cent of total active cases of which three States viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala account for 50 per cent of country’s total active cases.
Analysing the trend of COVID cases reported in different states, he remarked that it is too early to take a call on Maharashtra and that there is a need to observe the state for a longer period of time. “As we approach festival and winter season which is
conducive for spread of diseases such as influenza, we need to be extra cautious. We have told all states to ensure effective implementation of public health strategies in the fight against COVID-19”, he added.
He also said that a digital platform is being built to track COVID-19 vaccine administration and movement, from procurement to storage to distribution to individual beneficiaries and that online training modules are being developed for vaccinators.
Bhushan further said that the average daily Covid-19 positivity rate has declined from 9.21 per cent recorded between September 16-22 to 6.82 per cent registered from September 30 to October 6.
The total Covid cases in India have crossed 66.85 lakh with total deaths at 1,03,569, including 884 in 24 hours.