New Delhi: The current COVID-19 situation in India is going from bad to worse with the sharp rise in cases and the trends viewing that the novel virus is still very active, NITI Aayog's Member (Health) VK Paul warned on Tuesday.
India reported 53,480 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the total tally of cases to 1,21,49,335, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry. According to the Health Ministry, six states namely Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat- continue to see a surge.
Addressing the weekly press conference on Tuesday, Paul said, “As you have noticed in the last few weeks, the situation is becoming bad to worse. It is a serious cause of concern. In some states in particular, there is a huge cause of worry. No part of the country should be complacent.”
Against the backdrop of increasing cases in the previous three weeks, Paul said that the trends show that “coronavirus is still very active, can penetrate our defences and strike back when we think that we have found ways to control it.”
This is the second peak. India had fought through the first wave of infection six months ago, reporting a highest single-day spike of 93,617 cases on September 16, while the highest number of deaths recorded in a day were 1,169 on September 15.
Paul further informed, “We are facing an increasingly severe intensive situation, more so in some districts but the whole country is potentially at risk. If the cases are more, they will eventually overwhelm the system. The deaths will also occur, even if they are low. If it is business as usual, we will continue to be chased by the virus.”
He, however, assured that India has sufficient capacities in the hospitals, ambulance services and ICU beds are functional. He said, “Dedicated hospitals set up must be re-energised, re-tested and rehearsed so that the load of patient come, we are able to manage it effectively.”
(With agency inputs)