India’s new Covid-19 cases jump, PM Modi to hold high-level meeting

• The number of fresh new Covid-19 cases reported in India on Wednesday stood at 1,134 vs 699 reported on Tuesday.
• The rise in Covid-19 cases coincides with a rise in the number of H3N2 flu.
• Change in seasons is causing a spurt in cases, say doctors.

The number of fresh new Covid-19 cases reported in India on Wednesday stood at 1,134, according to government data. This is a significant rise as compared to the 699 infections reported on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the situation and public health preparedness, a PTI report said quoting officials.

The rise in Covid-19 cases this time around coincides with unseasonal rains in March, which has led to a rise in the number of flu cases, including the new strain of H3N2 virus. The symptoms — cough, body ache, fever, and sore throat — are similar for H3N2 virus and Covid-19.

H3N2 and H3N1 are influenza A viruses which have similar flu symptoms. In severe cases, however, people may also experience breathlessness and/or wheezing, as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

No cause for worry say doctors

The new Covid-19 cases are believed to belong to the Omicron sub-variants of XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.5 – which are known to be highly transmissible. This variant is also behind the surge of cases in the United States.

Experts, however, believe that it might not cause a fresh wave. "We believe that this is a change between the two seasons and we are seeing a spurt in the cases because of that. As soon as the summer sets in and the sweltering heat comes in, hopefully these cases will go down," Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of the Covid task force and Chair, Critical Care, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, told IANS.

The current Covid-19 active caseload stands at 7,026 which is 0.01% of the total cases reported. The country also reported five Covid deaths in a short span of time from Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra and one in Kerala. Until now, as many 5.3 lakh Covid deaths have been reported in the country since the pandemic set in.

"Covid is now just like the flu or a common cold. There is no significant increase in hospitalisation, ICU admission or death rate," epidemiologist Dr (Prof) Amitav Banerjee told IANS.

As per the data, the recovery of 662 patients in one day took the cumulative tally to 4,41,60,279. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.79%.

Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate has been reported to be 1.09%, while the weekly positivity rate in the country currently also stands at 0.98%.

India administered 7,673 doses in the last 24 hours, and a total number of vaccines were at 220.65 doses.

(With inputs from PTI & IANS)