Latest news with #AswathyS
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Active Covid cases in India cross 3,000, Kerala leads the surge
India's active Covid-19 cases have crossed the 3,000 threshold, with Kerala reporting the highest number of infections, according to data released by the Union health ministry on Saturday. The number of active cases has risen sharply from 257 on May 22 to 3,395 as of May 31. In the last 24 hours alone, 685 new cases were recorded, and four deaths were reported, one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Health officials maintain there is no reason for alarm. 'The severity of infections is low, with most patients under home care,' an official source told news agency PTI. Dr Rajiv Behl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Monday that genome sequencing from affected regions in the west and south of India confirmed that the variants driving the latest increase are all Omicron subvariants — LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1. 'We should monitor and be vigilant, but there is no cause to worry,' he said. The rise in active cases is most pronounced in Kerala (1,336), followed by Maharashtra (467), Delhi (375), Gujarat (265), Karnataka (234), West Bengal (205), Tamil Nadu (185) and Uttar Pradesh (117). Delhi reported the death of a 60-year-old woman who had acute intestinal obstruction, while Karnataka reported a 63-year-old cancer patient who had co-morbidities including tuberculosis. Odisha health secretary Aswathy S urged residents not to panic, assuring that all seven patients in the state are stable and the situation remains under control. 'The latest ICMR report says that the present variant does not exhibit severe symptoms, and most cases are mild,' she said. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has reiterated that the city's hospitals are well-prepared. 'Nineteen patients are hospitalised in Delhi, but there is no need to worry. The government is alert,' she said. An earlier advisory instructed hospitals to ensure the availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, and vaccines. Karnataka issues precautionary guidelines As active cases continue to rise in Karnataka, the state's health and family welfare department has issued a detailed advisory aimed at preventing further spread. Healthcare workers have been directed to report all Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) cases, especially those with co-morbidities. A portion of these cases will undergo RT-PCR testing, and symptomatic individuals among vulnerable groups — including children, the elderly, and pregnant women, must be tested. The advisory also mandates the tracking of positivity rates and CT values, genome sequencing of severe cases, and sewage surveillance where applicable. With schools set to reopen in June, a separate circular instructed schools to send symptomatic children home and ensure that teachers and staff do not work while ill. 'Avoid crowded or poorly ventilated areas, especially for immunocompromised individuals,' the circular said.
Mint
a day ago
- Health
- Mint
COVID-19 cases in India rise to 3,395; Delhi woman among 4 dead in 24 hours, 68 test positive in Maharashtra — 10 points
COVID-19 Cases in India: COVID-19 cases are rising across India, with the country reporting over 3,000 cases and four deaths as of Saturday, May 31. Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and West Bengal have the highest number of active cases, according to data from the Union Home Ministry. 1. India now officially has over 3,000 active COVID-19 cases. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India were 3,395 as of Saturday. The highest number of cases are in Kerala at 1,336, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. 2. India has reported four Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours The deceased persons are from Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. As per data, 1,435 people have been discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours. 3. The severity of infections is low, with most of the patients under home care. There is no reason to worry, according to sources quoted by PTI. The situation is being closely monitored, they said. 4. Amid 467 active cases in Maharashtra, the state on Saturday reported 68 new COVID-19 cases. Of the new cases, 30 were detected in Mumbai and 15 from Pune Municipal Corporation limits. Cases were also detected in Kalyan-Dombivali and Raigad. 5. Meanwhile, the Karnataka health department has asked people to stay calm, remain vigilant, and work with health authorities to prevent further spread and ensure public safety. It also issued directions to schools amid the current COVID-19 surge, as they are scheduled to open in June. It has asked government and private schools to take precautions in the interest of school children's health. 6. Delhi has reported one death related to COVID-19 on Saturday. A 60-year-old woman who tested positive for COVID-19 died, marking the first fatality since the recent surge. 'The woman was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy. The COVID-19 finding was incidental,' an official said. 7. A 63-year-old man with co-morbidities and who tested positive for COVID-19 died at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday. This takes the number of COVID-related deaths in Karnataka to four amid the recent surge. According to the health department statement, the elderly patient who was fully vaccinated was on post operative chemotherapy and had co-morbidities like pulmonary TB with squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. 8. Since the start of the year, seven COVID-19 patients have died in Karnataka, six of whom had co-morbidities. Adequate coronavirus testing and treatment facilities are available in the state and people should not panic, the health department said. 9. The Karnataka health department has further issued a public advisory, asking people to practice responsible behaviour by wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining physical distancing, and practicing good hygiene. 10. Two more persons tested positive for Covid in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to seven, Health Secretary Aswathy S said on Saturday. Urging people not to panic, she said the condition of all the patients is stable.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Health
- India Gazette
"We are monitoring situation": Odisha Health Secy on Covid cases
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 31 (ANI): The Odisha Health Secretary on Saturday said that the authorities are monitoring the situation and conducting regular meetings as the number of COVID-19 cases surged to 2710 across the country, with Kerala reporting the highest number of active cases. On the current COVID-19 situation in Odisha, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department of the state, Aswathy S, told ANI, 'It is well within control. We have only seven identified positive cases. The first one has already recovered. There is no threat to the public at the moment. We are monitoring the situation. We are assessing the preparedness. We are conducting regular meetings.' According to the Union Health Ministry, India's COVID-19 tally has reached 2,710 active cases, with 1,170 patients discharged. The country reported seven deaths across multiple states, with comorbidities playing a significant role in most cases, according to state-wise data. According to the Health Ministry, in Delhi, one death was reported--a 60-year-old female with acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy, where Covid-19 was an incidental finding. Gujarat recorded one death, with details still awaited. Karnataka reported one fatality--a 70-year-old male who succumbed to acute cardiorespiratory arrest, acute encephalopathy with late-onset focal seizure, severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and ischemic heart disease (IHD). His COVID-19 status awaits RT-PCR confirmation, as per the statement. It also stated that Maharashtra reported two deaths: a 67-year-old male with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), left lung pneumonia, Covid-19 RT-PCR positive, and comorbidities including DM, HTN, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA); and a 21-year-old male with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), with one death reconciled. Punjab recorded one death--a 39-year-old male with Hepatitis B and acute respiratory syndrome. Tamil Nadu reported one death--a 60-year-old male with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kerala leads with 1,147 active cases, and reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing. Bihar is awaiting daily COVID-19 updates. (ANI)
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Bhubaneswar officials directed to ensure distribution of insecticidal nets ahead of monsoon
BHUBANESWAR: With the onset of monsoon, the Health and Family Welfare department has geared up for containing vector and water borne diseases. After a review of the situation here on Thursday, Health secretary Aswathy S directed officials to intensify awareness activities at grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of drugs at different levels ranging from ASHA worker to sub-centre, PHC, CHC and district headquarters hospitals. CDMOs have been asked to ensure the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) with the help of ASHA workers, MPHWs at village and ward level. 'Senior officers from the directorate of public health and National Health Mission (NHM) would go to grassroots level and ensure 100 per cent distribution and use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening and testing,' said an official. Director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra has been advised to prepare a detailed schedule of the movement of officers to districts, particularly those where more number of malaria, dengue and diarrhoea cases have been detected in the past few years. More than 40.49 lakh LLINs have been allotted to seven districts which reported higher incidence of malaria last year. Aswathy directed officials to focus on these high-burden districts and intensify preventive and surveillance activities. The activities would be carried on targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Dr Brundha D.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health dept takes steps to contain diseases
Bhubaneswar: More than 40.49 lakh long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were provided to seven malaria-prone districts to be distributed among the vulnerable population. These districts are Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Boudh. Similarly, two districts, namely Sundargarh and Khurda, reported a comparatively higher number of dengue cases last year. Health and family welfare secretary Aswathy S at a meeting on Thursday directed officials to intensify preventive and surveillance activities in these districts. She asked them to ensure actual use of LLINs by people in their houses. The chief district medical and public health officers were asked to ensure this with the help of ASHA workers and multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) in villages and wards. In the meeting, it was decided that senior officers from the directorate of public health and the National Health Mission (NHM) would go to the grassroots level and ensure 100% use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening, and testing. Director of public health Nilakantha Mishra was advised to draw a detailed schedule for the movement of officers to districts. While reviewing the preparedness, the health secretary directed intensification of wide awareness activities at the grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of required drugs at different levels, ranging from ASHA workers to sub-centres, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-divisional and district quarter hospitals. Aswathy also directed mobilisation of the community and orient them towards preventive practices involving women self-help groups (WSHGs), community leaders, and MPWHs. It was also decided at the meeting to issue advisories for proper cleaning of overhead water tanks and sanitisation of water sources in residential complexes or hostels before the reopening of educational institutions. The issues relating to regular water quality testing, disinfection, and monitoring in rural and urban areas were also discussed. The activities would be carried out in a targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Brundha D.
