Declining trend of COVID-19 pandemic in India, except for 2 to 3 states: Govt

COVID-19 pandemic in India is showing a declining trend, except for in two to three states, government said on Tuesday while ting it is "particularly teworthy" vis-a-vis some countries in rrn hemisphere where a severe increase in intensity of virus' spread is being seen.

pandemic situation in world is particularly concerning and it has been seen that countries of much greater ecomic capability with higher per capita income and a robust healthcare system can succumb to a second peak of infection, V K Paul, NITI Aayog Member (Health), said at a press conference.

"This must be a lesson for all of us," said Paul, who also heads National Task Force on COVID-19.

"We are very fortunate that our (COVID-19) trend is in opposite direction. We are fortunate that today we are showing a decline in (coronavirus) pandemic, except in two or three states," he said.

This decline is particularly teworthy because in or countries of rrn hemisphere re is a severe increase in intensity of pandemic, Paul added.

"We have to protect se gains through surveillance, contact tracing, containment measures, isolation and quarantine strategy as well as individual behaviours which reduce spread of infection from one person to ar," he stressed.

pandemic has rebounded in several countries, largely in rrn hemisphere, and a third peak has hit US, Paul said, adding, "Becoming a bit lax... slowing down surveillance and containment strategies also must be playing a role in this." Stressing that coronavirus pandemic is on a "downward trend and under control" in India, he warned that "we cant become lax and have to stay vigilant".

Kerala, West Bengal and Delhi are proceeding towards a third peak. This is a matter of concern and re can be complacency in following COVID-19-appropriate behaviour as more challenges will emerge in coming days, Paul said.

"More festivals are ahead and wherever we have faltered in last few days, it will show in coming 10 to 12 days." Paul stressed on continuing with test, track, trace and treat strategy.

"Looking for a super-spreading event in case of an individual positive case is an important area of our work and we are learning that super-spreading events happen when we are toger t only in very large numbers but also in medium numbers. So, super-spreading events must be avoided," he said.

Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said states such as Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi have reported a rise in number COVID-19 cases during festivals and cautioned people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour during festivities.

Around 58 per cent of fresh COVID-19 deaths in country were reported from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, he said, adding 49.4 per cent of fresh coronavirus cases in same period were reported from Kerala (4,287) West Bengal (4,121), Maharashtra (3,645), Karnataka (3,130) and Delhi (2,832).

Bhushan also mentioned that Kerala has emerged as a leading contributor in new COVID-19 cases reported in a 24-hour period.  He also said health ministry is in contact with all se states and central teams have been sent re.

"A few teams have returned after completing task allotted. After analysing ir report furr actions will be taken in formulating new strategies to be adopted for se states," Bhushan said.  He furr said a continuous decline in aver daily new coronavirus cases has been observed and figure has come down from 83,232 between September 23 and 29 to 49,909 for October 21-27.

"When we observe number of new COVID-19 cases reported in last 24 hours, it is only 36,470. However, number of tests conducted during this period has t come down. If even after doing 11 lakh tests per day on an aver, re is a decline in daily new cases. It surely is a very positive sign. Our number of tests per million population is more than 75,600," he pointed out.

"India's COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined from 1.77 per cent on September 1 to 1.50 per cent as on date. recovery rate has increased from 76.94 per cent on September 1 to 90.62 per cent as on date," official said.

It should be specifically ted that many states and Union Territories have case fatality rate below national aver of 1.50 per cent. re has also been a decline in aver daily new deaths from 1,054 in September to 615 w, Bhushan said.   health secretary said India has highest COVID-19 recoveries in world. Also, country's number of cases as well as deaths per million population were among lowest, he added.

"It took us 57 days to register a recovery of 10 lakhs from 1 lakhs, whereas, latest 10 lakh recoveries have been achieved in just 13 days which is also a satisfactory sign," Bhushan said.

To a question over BJP's election manifesto promising free coronavirus vaccine for everyone in Bihar, Paul said state governments have been urged to take a national approach towards engaging with companies and deciding criteria for COVID-19 vaccination.

"In order to deliver vaccine to priority groups, to extent that we can foresee, re is absolutely problem in terms of resources," he said.