<p>Four states — Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh reported an upsurge in daily Covid-19 cases over the last few days, whereas thousands of fresh cases are still being detected daily in Kerala, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday raising an alarm.</p>.<p>The upswing seen most profoundly in Maharashtra comes after a low that started in November-December and continued through January and the first half of February. But since February 16, the numbers are moving northward.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/covid-19-negative-rt-pcr-certificate-not-older-than-72-hours-compulsory-for-those-arriving-in-karnataka-from-maharashtra-953390.html">Covid-19: Negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours compulsory for those arriving in Karnataka from Maharashtra</a></strong></p>.<p>Riding on the increased Maharashtra case numbers, the daily rise of fresh Covid-19 cases as on Saturday was up by nearly 5,000 compared to the situation five days ago. There is also a corresponding rise in the daily death toll. On Saturday, the western state reported more than 6,000 cases for the first time since January 1.</p>.<p>Similarly in Punjab too, there is a steady rise in fresh Covid-19 cases since early February with nearly 400 cases being reported for the first time on Saturday since January 1. The rise in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is not so prominent but an increase nevertheless from last week’s count.</p>.<p>Kerala, on the other hand, presents a declining trend but in absolute terms, the numbers are second to Maharashtra with more than 4,500 cases diagnosed in the last 24 hours.</p>.<p>“The virus is very much around, the upward surge of cases is a reflection of the fact that there are vulnerable populations. Such localised areas of transmission have been observed in other countries as well,” Oommen John, a senior public health researcher from the George Institute of Global Health, Delhi told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>The health ministry also stressed the importance of adherence to the Covid-19-appropriate behaviour for breaking the chain of transmission of the virus and containment of the spread of the disease.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/tac-member-suggests-compulsory-rt-pcr-tests-for-those-travelling-to-karnataka-from-high-risk-states-953027.html" target="_blank">TAC member suggests compulsory RT-PCR tests for those travelling to Karnataka from high-risk states</a></strong></p>.<p>“Recent reports from Israel demonstrate that accelerated vaccination covering a majority of the population is critical to break the chain of transmission,” John said.</p>.<p>This, however, remains a problematic area in India as more than 35% of healthcare workers did not take even the first dose of the Covid vaccine as on February 20, which according to the Health Ministry was the final day of finishing the first dose of vaccination for the health care staff. There would be mop-up exercises in the next five days.</p>.<p>As many as 63,52,713 healthcare workers took the first dose as vaccine hesitancy continues to dominate the decision making of an individual. In total, just over one crore (1,08,38,323 doses) vaccine doses were administered since January 16. More than 8 lakh healthcare workers received the second dose and 36 lakh front line staff got the first dose.</p>
<p>Four states — Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh reported an upsurge in daily Covid-19 cases over the last few days, whereas thousands of fresh cases are still being detected daily in Kerala, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday raising an alarm.</p>.<p>The upswing seen most profoundly in Maharashtra comes after a low that started in November-December and continued through January and the first half of February. But since February 16, the numbers are moving northward.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/covid-19-negative-rt-pcr-certificate-not-older-than-72-hours-compulsory-for-those-arriving-in-karnataka-from-maharashtra-953390.html">Covid-19: Negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours compulsory for those arriving in Karnataka from Maharashtra</a></strong></p>.<p>Riding on the increased Maharashtra case numbers, the daily rise of fresh Covid-19 cases as on Saturday was up by nearly 5,000 compared to the situation five days ago. There is also a corresponding rise in the daily death toll. On Saturday, the western state reported more than 6,000 cases for the first time since January 1.</p>.<p>Similarly in Punjab too, there is a steady rise in fresh Covid-19 cases since early February with nearly 400 cases being reported for the first time on Saturday since January 1. The rise in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is not so prominent but an increase nevertheless from last week’s count.</p>.<p>Kerala, on the other hand, presents a declining trend but in absolute terms, the numbers are second to Maharashtra with more than 4,500 cases diagnosed in the last 24 hours.</p>.<p>“The virus is very much around, the upward surge of cases is a reflection of the fact that there are vulnerable populations. Such localised areas of transmission have been observed in other countries as well,” Oommen John, a senior public health researcher from the George Institute of Global Health, Delhi told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>The health ministry also stressed the importance of adherence to the Covid-19-appropriate behaviour for breaking the chain of transmission of the virus and containment of the spread of the disease.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/tac-member-suggests-compulsory-rt-pcr-tests-for-those-travelling-to-karnataka-from-high-risk-states-953027.html" target="_blank">TAC member suggests compulsory RT-PCR tests for those travelling to Karnataka from high-risk states</a></strong></p>.<p>“Recent reports from Israel demonstrate that accelerated vaccination covering a majority of the population is critical to break the chain of transmission,” John said.</p>.<p>This, however, remains a problematic area in India as more than 35% of healthcare workers did not take even the first dose of the Covid vaccine as on February 20, which according to the Health Ministry was the final day of finishing the first dose of vaccination for the health care staff. There would be mop-up exercises in the next five days.</p>.<p>As many as 63,52,713 healthcare workers took the first dose as vaccine hesitancy continues to dominate the decision making of an individual. In total, just over one crore (1,08,38,323 doses) vaccine doses were administered since January 16. More than 8 lakh healthcare workers received the second dose and 36 lakh front line staff got the first dose.</p>
