Here’s a quick update on COVID-19 as of 30 April 2021 by L&T’s Health & Welfare Department.

 

 

 

When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit, which is normal for a virus. These changes are called ‘mutations’. A virus with one or more mutations is referred to as a ‘variant’ of the original virus. Most viral mutations have little to no impact on the virus’ ability to cause infections and disease. But, depending on where the changes are located in its genetic material, they may affect a virus’ properties – such as transmission (for example, it may spread more or less easily) or severity (for example, it may cause more or less severe disease). 

 

 

It is the SARS-CoV-2 variant that has two mutations coming together at the same time. The double mutant virus was detected in India when the second wave of COVID-19 was gathering momentum.

 

The double mutant COVID variant – identified as B1617 – that was first detected in India, has spread to “at least 17 countries”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

 

 

GLOBAL
 
Globally, fresh COVID cases increased for the ninth consecutive week, with nearly 5.7 million new cases reported in the last week – surpassing previous peaks. India accounts for 38 per cent of global cases reported in the past week. After the US, India now stands at second highest both in terms of cases and casualties.

 

 

Daily new cases have already gone past the first-wave peak for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab, and are still rising in many other states.

 

#COVID19 Snapshot as on 30 April 2021:

 

• Total Active Cases: 31,70,228

 

• New Cases: 85,141

 

• Total Deaths: 2,08,330 (1.11%)

 

• Vaccine Doses Administered: 152.2 million

 

 

 

Phase-I of COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched on 16 January 2021, Phase-II on 1 March (for 60+) and 1 April (for 45+) and Phase-III from 1 May for 18+.

 

In Phase-III, the National Vaccine Strategy aims at liberalised vaccine pricing and scaling up vaccine coverage. This would, on the one hand, incentivise vaccine manufacturers to rapidly scale up production and on the other hand, attract new vaccine manufacturers. It would make pricing, procurement and administration of vaccines more flexible and ensure augmented vaccine production as well as wider availability within the country.

 

India has been following a dynamic mapping model based on availability of vaccines and coverage of vulnerable priority groups.

 

 

 

Maharashtra 1,33,60,594  25,10,559  1,58,71,153

 

Rajasthan 1,07,45,782  21,91,129  1,29,36,911

 

Uttar Pradesh 1,01,26,798  22,28,757  1,23,55,555

 

Gujarat 98,74,554  23,78,124  1,22,52,678

 

West Bengal 85,96,500  21,85,636  1,07,82,136

 

Karnataka 79,40,789  14,59,600  94,00,389

 

Madhya Pradesh 70,22,410  10,54,584  80,76,994

 

Kerala 60,06,406  12,22,823  72,29,229

 

Bihar 58,22,440  10,48,471  68,70,911

 

Andhra Pradesh 49,88,520  13,65,533  63,54,053