Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 16 (EMN): India recorded highest-ever single-day spike in new Covid-19 positive cases on Friday as more than two lakh fresh infections were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s active caseload to 15,69,743.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare updated on Friday that a total of 2,17,353 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours with 10 states -- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal -- accounting for 79.10% of the new infection.
Maharashtra leads in the number of daily new cases with 61,695, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 22,339 and Delhi with 16,699. The country’s Covid tally now stands at 1,42,91,917.
The Health ministry’s data stated that 1,185 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,74, 308, while 1,18,302 patients recovered. The country’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,25,47,866 with 87.80% recovery rate.
The update went on to inform that 11,72,23,509 (about 11.72 crore) vaccine doses have been administered through 17,37,539 sessions till date, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Friday.
Dedicated hospital wards for Covid patients
Following the surge in the number of Covid cases and casualties over the past few weeks, the Union Health ministry has advised all central ministries, through a letter, ‘to issue instructions to the hospitals under their control or their PSUs to set-up exclusive dedicated wards or separate blocks within the hospitals for Covid Care, as was done last year’.
These dedicated wards should have separate entry and exit points for the management of Covid-19 cases, to provide treatment services including specialised care for the confirmed cases.
“Additionally, these dedicated hospital wards or blocks have to be equipped to provide all supportive and ancillary services including oxygen supported beds, ICU beds, ventilators and specialised critical care units (wherever available), laboratory services, imaging services, kitchen, laundry etc., along with dedicated health work force,” read the letter.
The Central Ministries have been also been advised to provide the details of such dedicated hospital wards or blocks to the public, duly co-ordinating with the respective health departments of States/UTs and the district health administration of the States/districts wherever these hospitals are located.
It also suggested ‘nominating a nodal officer from the ministry or department for necessary co-ordination with the respective States/UTs for this purpose and their contact details shared with the respective States/UTs as well as the Union Health Ministry’.