At 24, Kerala's Covid deaths per million per week highest in India

KOCHI: Kerala now reports the highest deaths per million per week in the country. Between July 25 and 31, Kerala reported 24 deaths per million per week, while Maharashtra came second with 12 deaths per million per week, followed by Odisha's 9 deaths per million per week. India's average is about 2 deaths per million per week.
"Kerala's case fatality ratio (CFR) on May 15 was 0.3% and it increased to 0.49% by July 31. But Kerala continues to have one of the lowest CFRs in the country," said public health expert Dr Padmanabha Shenoy, who has been analysing Covid patterns across India on a weekly basis.
Kerala's seven-day average daily growth rate in cases is 0.61% while India's is 0.13%. The state's R-naught (reproduction rate) is 1.28, with its daily active cases and deaths now highest in the country.
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On Monday this week, Kerala reported the highest number of deaths in the country with 28% (118) of the total 420 fatalities. However, on Tuesday, Maharashtra with 177 deaths again overtook Kerala (148) in the daily toll.
"Kerala's Covid-19 mortality rate is going up and it is a matter of concern. The mortality rate in the second wave has been bigger than that in the first wave," said health economist Rijo M John.
Since the last few days, almost on a daily basis, Kerala is reporting about 50% of the new Covid cases in the country. The daily deaths average around 20% to 25% of the countrywide toll.
"Death is inevitable when there is increase in cases. But Kerala has been able to control preventable deaths - due to lack of oxygen, ventilator, vaccination etc - to a large extent," said Dr Arun N M, internal medicine expert who has been analysing Covid trends in Kerala.