COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise in India. In the past 48 hours, 769 new infections have been reported, bringing the total number of active cases to 6,133. This information was shared in the latest data released by the Ministry of Health on Sunday.
Kerala Emerges as a Hotspot; Centre Issues Alert to States
As per the data, Kerala remains the worst-affected state, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi. In light of the rising cases, the central government has directed all states to ensure adequate availability of oxygen, ventilators, and essential medicines.
Central Government’s Preparedness: Mock Drills and Review Meetings
Taking the situation seriously, the Centre is assessing preparedness through mock drills. A high-level review meeting was held on June 2 and 3, chaired by Director General of Health Services, Dr. Sunita Sharma. Representatives from ICMR, NCDC, EMR, and IDSP were also present.
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Death Toll Reaches 65
According to government sources, most patients showed mild symptoms and recovered in home isolation. Since January this year, 65 deaths have been confirmed. On May 22, the number of active cases was just 257, which has now seen a significant increase.
Genome Sequencing and Increased Surveillance
Under the IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme), state and district surveillance units are closely monitoring cases of ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections). Confirmed SARI samples are being sent for genome sequencing through the ICMR-VRDL network.