The positivity trend is downward since May 3 and Delhi, MP and Haryana have reported a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Briefing the media, Lav Aggarwal, Union Health Ministry, said that the number of recoveries more than active cases which indicate that the containment efforts are working.
The overall positivity rate in India, which stood at 21.9 per cent last week, has now fallen to 19.8 per cent.
Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have reported a major drop in case positivity.
’85 per cent of coronavirus cases from 10 states’
85 per cent of coronavirus cases from 10 states and there are 11 states with more than 1 lakh active COVID-19 cases and 8 states with active cases between 50,000 and 1 lakh.
“As COVID-19 cases are increasing, it’s of paramount importance that we follow protocols of infection control practices at hospitals. It is been seen that secondary infections — fungal & bacterial — are causing more mortality,” said AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria.
The AIIMS Director further said that Mucormycosis spores are found in soil, air, and even in food but they are of low virulence and usually don’t cause infection.
There were very few cases of this infection before COVID-19. Now a large number of cases are being reported due to coronavirus, he added.
‘The second wave of COVID-19 is stabilizing’
“At AIIMS, 23 patients are being treated for this fungal infection. Out of them, 20 are still COVID-19 positive and the rest are negative. Many states have reported more than 500 cases of Mucormycosis,” said Randeep Guleria.
Mucormycosis can affect the face, infecting the nose, the orbit of the eye, or the brain, which can cause even vision loss. It can also spread to the lung.
Misuse of steroids is a major cause behind this infection. Chances of fungal infection increase in the patients who are diabetic, COVID-19 positive, and are taking steroids. To prevent it, we should stop the misuse of steroids, said the AIIMS Director.
Meanwhile, the overall situation (second wave of COVID-19) is stabilizing and the Health Ministry said the government will work towards ensuring further stabilization.
