In January, the Union government told the Rajya Sabha that the pandemic was on the decline in the country. But, by the second week of March, the scenario changed and has continued to get worse. On April 5, India recorded more than one lakh fresh Covid-19 cases, its highest one-day spike ever.
Despite the emergence of mutant strains, experts say the surge is mainly because of crowded gatherings and events, free movement of people post unlocking and a lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour.
As the second wave grips the country, Maharashtra has been worst affected, so far. It recorded an unprecedented five lakh plus cases in less than a month. The 57,000 plus cases it recorded on April 4 was an all-time high 24-hour spike; the state’s caseload stood at over 30 lakh. Mumbai, which accounted for around 4.5 lakh of the cases, also hit an all-time high 24-hour spike (11,163) on April 4. To tackle the surge, the state government announced a night curfew and weekend lockdown till April 30.
The spike in cases first became evident in February in western Maharashtra’s Pune and Satara districts and Vidarbha’s Yavatmal and Amravati districts. It subsequently led to the imposition of lockdowns and stringent restrictions. The rural areas of Amravati reported a higher number of cases than the urban areas, continuously for a week. This is consistent with the emerging trend of infections in the second wave.
Denne historien er fra April 18, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 18, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Trump And The Crisis Of Liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
