India's daily Covid situation in 5 charts

NEW DELHI: Several states reported huge spikes in daily cases on Tuesday, with Karnataka reporting 41,457 new infections in the last 24 hours - a 52.6% increase compared to yesterday's figure. Bengaluru also reported a whopping increase of 60% in daily cases.
Here is India's Covid situation explained in 5 charts
India reported 685 new Omicron cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 8,891 on Tuesday -- an increase of 8.31% since yesterday.

Among the major cities, Bengaluru reported the sharpest rise in daily cases on Tuesday, recording 25,595 fresh infections in the last 24 hours; it had reported 15,947 infection on Monday. Mumbai registered a marginal increase while Delhi and Chennai witnessed slight dip in infections.

Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra on Tuesday reported major increase in daily cases at 34%, 24% and 26%, respectively.

For the second consecutive day, total daily cases reported in India over 24 hours marginally decreased. On Tuesday, the nation recorded 2,38,018 new cases, down from 2,58,089 on Monday. The daily positivity rate also decreased to 14.43%, from 19.65% on Monday.
Meanwhile, the active case load increased from 16,56,341 to 17,36,628 on Tuesday -- the highest in 230 days.
Daily testing figure also increased on Tuesday to 16,49,143, up from 13.1 lakh on Monday.

India’s death toll has climbed to 4,86,761 with 310 fresh fatalities, according to government data updated at 8 am on Tuesday.


The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, the World Health Organization chief said on Tuesday while cautioning against the narrative that the fast-spreading Omicron variant is mild "This pandemic is nowhere near over, and with the incredible growth of Omicron globally, new variants are likely to emerge," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a briefing.
“In some countries, cases seem to have peaked, which gives hope that the worst of this latest wave is done with, but no country is out of the woods yet. I remain particularly concerned about many countries that have low vaccination rates, as people are many times more at risk of severe illness and death if they’re unvaccinated,” said the WHO chief.
He added that Omicron may be less severe, “but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading, and hurts the overall response and costs more lives”.

Flagging a decline in the number of Covid-19 tests in many states and union territories, the Centre has asked them to enhance testing so that an effective track of the spread of the pandemic can be kept and immediate citizen-centric action can be initiated.
In a letter to states and UTs, Additional Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja advised them to pay attention to this aspect immediately and increase the testing in a strategic manner keeping in view the trend of case positivity in specific areas.
Referring to the ministry's earlier letters and the home ministry advisory of December 27 last year laying out the broad framework of pandemic management in the context of Omicron, Ahuja said testing remains a key and crucial component.


If cough persists for more than two-three weeks, one should opt for investigation for tuberculosis and other conditions, said Union health ministry in its revised guidelines issued by AIIMS, ICMR - Covid-19 National Task Force and Joint Monitoring Group (DGHS) for management of adult Covid-19 patients.
The test has been recommended only if there is worsening of symptoms, the guideline stated.
Doctors, meanwhile, have been advised to avoid giving steroids to Covid-19 patients. "There is no evidence for benefit for injectable steroids in those not requiring oxygen supplementation, or on continuation after discharge anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory therapy (such as steroids) can have a risk of secondary infection such as invasive mucormycosis when used too early, at higher doses or for longer than required," the guideline added.

Over 50% of youngsters between 15-18 age group have received 1st dose
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that over 50% of youngsters in the 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of Covid vaccine. Over 10 lakh beneficiaries got the dose inthe last 24 hours, taking the tally past 3.7 crore.
India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has now crossed 158.74 crore (1,58,74,38,750). Over 65 lakh (65,85,945) vaccine doses were administered till 7 pm.
Meanwhile, more than 56 lakh (56,42,395) precaution doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries for Covid vaccination have been administered so far.