Kerala has recorded nearly 20,000 cases of COVID-19 to date (File)
New Delhi:
Kerala has reported 702 new cases of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, nearly 100 more than Delhi reported in the same period, comparative data from the two regions showed on Tuesday evening.
The decrease in the number of recorded cases per day in the nation’s capital is significant, given that it is the third most affected region in the country – with 1.31 lakh cases in total – and has frequently reported more than 1,000 new cases per day in recent weeks.
The increase of 613 new cases in Delhi in the past 24 hours was its lowest daily increase in two months and the lowest of any state and union territory on Monday, government data showed.
Likewise, the steady rise in coronavirus cases in Kerala is cause for concern for a state considered by many to have largely succeeded in containing the virus.
As of March 31, the state had 234 cases – the highest number in the country with Maharashtra second out of 217 – but by April 22 that number had fallen to 428 from 5,242 in Maharashtra.
More concerning is the fact that the source of the infection for 35 of the cases reported on Monday is unknown.
When the state reported 927 new cases on Sunday, the source of the infection for 67 was also listed as unknown. On Saturday, the state recorded its largest single-day peak to date with 1,103 new cases, the source of infection for 72 patients being unknown.
A similar percentage for Delhi – number of infections of unknown origin – was around 50 percent in early June, according to Health Minister Satyendra Jain.
In addition, around 68% of its cases are due to local contact, a figure also on the rise. As of July 27, cases are expected to double every 13 days, up from 24 days on July 1.
The state has reported 19,127 cases of COVID-19 to date, including more than 9,700 active cases and 61 deaths related to the virus.
In contrast, Delhi’s 1.31 lakh cases include less than 12,000 active cases and the city’s doubling rate is more than 30 days at last count. The death toll is much higher, however, with more than 3,800 reported.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had come under heavy criticism for the city’s peak coronavirus cases, today hailed the capital’s COVID-19 model.
“Due to the hard work and attention of two million people in Delhi, the situation is now improving. Today, the Delhi Covid model is being discussed across the country and around the world.” , did he declare.
Across India, the number of COVID-19 cases has crossed 14 lakh today as the number of reported infections per day threatens to hit 50,000. Globally, more than 1.62 million people have contracted the virus so far and more than 6.48 lakh have died.
With the contribution of PTI
