Coronavirus live updates: 88% of total deaths among 45+, data shows

India recorded its highest daily rise in Covid-19 cases this year with 72,330 new infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, taking the total tally of cases to 1,22,21,665, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. The single-day rise in cases is the highest recorded since October 11, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,62,927 with 459 daily new fatalities, the highest in around 116 days, the data updated at 8 am showed.

With Covid-19 cases steadily increasing in Bengaluru, a majority of the hospitals treating the infections said most of their beds are occupied and doctors fear demand for ICU beds could throw up infrastructure and human resources challenges in the coming days. Covid wards in major hospitals in the city are nearly full, despite 80% of the cases in the second wave are asymptomatic and require only home isolation. In a 1,000-bed hospital, 10% of the beds are for intensive care. In Covid care for severe patients, at least 40-50% beds should be in ICUs, doctors said. At a recent meeting with prominent hospitals and medical colleges, the state health and family welfare department asked hospitals to reserve 10% of their total beds for Covid cases. Currently, government hospitals are largely used for severe Covid patients. Unlike last year, private hospital beds for Covid will be used in a staggered manner.

Private hospitals on Wednesday received permission from the state health department to set up Covid-19 vaccination camps on office premises from April 1, a shot in the arm for hundreds of Indian and global companies headquartered in the city that can get eligible employees inoculated against the virus. Vaccination camps on office premises were proposed by the Gurgaon health department at the district task force meeting last week.

The state government slashed the rates for RTPCR, rapid antigen and antibody tests further on Wednesday. Now, getting an RT-PCR test in a hospital or a laboratory will cost Rs 600 and home collection Rs 800 in Maharashtra. The public health department on Wednesday issued a notification announcing the new rates. From the initial cost of Rs 4,500, the price of RT-PCR was brought down to Rs 1,600 in September, Rs 850 in December and now to Rs 600 if one walks into a laboratory or a hospital. The home collection rate is now Rs 800, down from Rs 2,000 in September. The rate for bulk testing has been fixed at Rs 500, a reduction from Rs 700.

From Thursday, everyone aged above 45 will be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine at 500 vaccination centres spread across 192 hospitals in the city. Advance booking on the Co-Win portal has already started and the government expects a huge jump in turnout. Increasing the coverage will also strengthen the fight against the novel coronavirus, which is crucial due to the recent surge in cases. Health minister Satyendar Jain said, “Vaccination is being started on a large scale from Thursday. Those eligible can get the shots from 9am till 9pm. Delhi has a large number of people aged above 45. The government wants to cover all of them as soon as possible. Delhi has a sufficient stock of the vaccine. Some hospitals even have 10 vaccination centres.”

Delhi has got an additional 1,072 Covid beds, including 230 ICU beds and 842 normal Covid beds, in the wake of a surge in Covid cases. The beds have been added in 33 private hospitals after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal reviewed the situation. Only 25% of the existing beds are currently occupied but the government has made advance arrangements because Delhi also receives patients from outside. Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and other big states are also reporting a surge in Covid cases. In reaction to a question, health minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said that the decision on whether those coming from states with a heavy Covid caseload would require a Covid negative report to come to Delhi, was still being discussed. There is no clarity on whether the government is planning to make negative Covid report mandatory for entering Delhi. Currently, random Covid tests are being done at the airport, bus terminals and railway stations to test those coming from states reporting a surge in Covid cases.