C for COVID

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

VARIANTS & MUTANTS

What is a variant?

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).

What is COVID-19 double mutant variant?

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.

SITUATION UPDATE

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.

INDIA

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

VACCINE

India

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.

Top 10 States Vaccination Data

STATE/UTS DOSE 1 DOSE 2 TOTAL VACCINATION

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

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