As of late Wednesday, India had reported 13,155 new cases during the day, with figures from two states yet to come. The tally on Tuesday stood at 9,155, an increase of nearly 47% over the previous day’s number (6,242). According to TOI’s Covid database.
In the last two days, there has been an increase of over 40% in COVID cases. Such a high rate of increase for two days in a row is unprecedented, although there has been a high percentage of cases on Tuesday following the traditional drop on Monday due to reduced testing over the weekend. During the second wave, the highest growth rate (in two consecutive days) was recorded on March 31 and April 1, when cases increased by 35% and 13.5%, respectively.
The explosion of cases has suddenly become more widespread as the total Covid count was falling till last week. At least 18 states and union territories spread across the country, barring the Northeast, have reported an increase in cases this week as compared to the same days last week. The notable exception to the increase so far is Kerala, which registered high numbers in the first three days of last week.
Maharashtra recorded the highest daily jump in cases, recording 3,900 fresh infections, almost double the number recorded on Tuesday (2,172). This was the highest single-day increase in cases in the state in 110 days, with Mumbai recording the highest daily number of any Indian city in the past several months, accounting for 2,445 new infections on Wednesday. Maharashtra also posted the highest single-day Covid count for the first time since June 7.
Other states where the infection has increased rapidly are Delhi (923 cases, up from 496 on Tuesday), Bengal (from 1,089, 752), Karnataka (from 566, 356), Gujarat (from 548, 394), Jharkhand (344, 155 onwards). ) and Haryana (from 217, 126). Cases are also increasing in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab and Goa.
While the surge coincides with the rise of the Omicron variant in the country, there is no concrete evidence yet (based on studies or numbers) to link the two in India. The country has recorded less than 1,000 omicron cases so far. Meanwhile, with the death toll at 68 on Wednesday, the deaths remained below 100 for the sixth consecutive day. Old deaths have not been included in this toll added by Kerala.
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