As Covid cases rise, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat report highest numbers

• India reported 918 new coronavirus cases and 4 new fatalities on Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to 6,350 and the death toll to 5,30,806.
• Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have reported the highest number of active Covid-19 cases.
• The Covid-19 National Task Force has issued fresh guidelines cautioning against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

According to the latest data from the Union health ministry on Monday, India registered 918 new coronavirus cases in a single day, bringing the total number of active cases to 6,350.

As per the update, the Covid-19 death toll in the country has reached 5,30,806, with four new fatalities reported. Out of these, two were reported in Rajasthan, one in Karnataka and Kerala each.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.08%, while the weekly positivity rate was at 0.86%. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India now stands at 4,46,96,338.

Covid-19 surge in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat

Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat reported the highest number of active Covid-19 cases. In response, the Centre advised these three states along with Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka to adopt a five-pronged approach of testing, tracing, treating, and vaccination, as these states are witnessing a surge.

According to a state health department official, on Sunday, Maharashtra reported 236 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 81,39,737. The death toll remained at 1,48,428, while 92 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, taking the count of recoveries to 79,90,001.

According to officials, on Monday it was reported that a Covid-19-infected patient was hospitalized in Odisha after a gap of over four months.

Officials stated on Monday that Punjab reported 12 new Covid-19 cases within the past 24 hours, whereas Haryana detected 14 cases. Meanwhile, Karnataka witnessed 78 fresh cases in the past 24 hours taking the active cases to 616, the state health department said.

ICMR issues warning against indiscriminate use of antibiotics

As concerns over the H3N2 flu surge alongside Covid-19, the Covid-19 National Task Force, operating under the Union Health Ministry, issued a fresh set of guidelines for managing adult Covid-19 patients.

The Centre has advised against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics for Covid patients who have other endemic infections such as H3N2, unless there is a clinical suspicion of a bacterial infection in the patient, according to ANI reports.

The revised guidelines also suggest that certain drugs like lopinavir-ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), ivermectin, Molnupiravir, Favipiravir, Azithromycin, and Doxycycline are currently not recommended for Covid patients.

Furthermore, Remdesivir injection dosage has been recommended for moderate to severe infection levels, and people experiencing symptoms such as trouble breathing and high fever for more than five days have been urged to seek immediate medical attention.

(With agency inputs)

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