Spike in Covid cases continues; total lockdown in Nagpur

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, March 13 (EMN): The spike in Covid-19 cases continued in India on Saturday with 24,882 fresh infections recorded in the last 24 hours, which was the highest single-day spike this year, taking the country’s caseload to 1,13,33,728.

The Union health ministry data revealed that death toll has climbed to 1,58,446 with 140 new fatalities while the number of recoveries stands at 1,09,73,260. It added that the country currently has 2,02,022 active cases.

The weekly bulletin issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland government, informed that India recorded 2,44,355 cases in the past week ending Feb. 12, witnessing a continued upward trend in cases for the past three weeks.

“Maharashtra continues to report the maximum cases with the city of Nagpur imposing a total lockdown for a week,” it stated.

Nagaland recorded 23 fresh Covid-19 cases (excluding cases detected on Saturday) and no deaths in the past week ending Feb. 12, the department informed.

The state has recorded 81 deaths till date with death rate of 0.66% against national average of 1.40%, it stated, adding that “84% of deaths have associated comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney and liver diseases, heart diseases etc.”.

Amid sudden surge in Covid cases in the country, the state’s Health department stated that the control of the pandemic is now left to ‘personal safety measures’ and ‘vaccines’.

It advised to take “personal safety measures / Covid-19 appropriate behaviours like using masks, handwashing frequently and avoiding crowded places till and when a certain level of immunity is achieved in the population”.

“Protecting the high-risk groups and building immunity in the population through Covid-19 vaccination,” it stated, adding that those with symptoms or come into contact with positive cases should isolate and get tested by calling state’s Covid helpline number 1800-345-0019.

The department went on to inform that 53,878 doses of Covishield vaccine have been administered across Nagaland with 12,043 doses inoculated in the past week ending Feb. 12.

In terms of district-wise vaccination, Dimapur leads with 16004 doses till Friday, followed by Kohima-11589; Mokokchung-4687; Phek-4032; Mon-3791; Tuensang-3319; Zunheboto-3204; Wokha-2259; Peren-1913; Kiphire-1802; and Longleng-1278.