Coronavirus Pandemic April 15th Latest News: A few months back, researchers in IIT Kanpur had predicted the onset of fourth Covid wave around June 22 and its peak from mid to late August this year. Although the government at the time said that it respected such studies, it also downplayed the study saying it had not been peer reviewed. Now, the country is seeing a slow and steady rise in Covid infections yet again. And it looks like the prediction might be coming true.
Covid cases are on the rise in several Indian states including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Gujarat. Though experts have pointed out that there is no reason to panic at the moment, they have also advised the public to remain cautious. The Delhi government on Thursday issued guidelines for schools. The state government advised the schools to shut down the concerned wing or the entire school in case positive cases are reported. This comes amid reports of some school students testing positive for the virus in Delhi as well as the National Capital Region. The revised guidelines for schools will be rolled out today.
In fact, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will hold a meeting next Wednesday to discuss measures to control the spread of Covid-19 in the city. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the officials might discuss the implementation of mandatory mask rule.
Even the World Health Organistaion held an emergency meet this week to discuss the Covid situation. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confiemed that the pandemic remains a public health emergency. He stressed for public not to let their guards down and follow all COvid-related protocols like wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
Here are some more latest updates on the Covid-19 situation in India and around the globe:
In the wake of rising concerns over the surge in Covid infections, India on Friday reported 949 fresh Covid-19 cases, as per the Union Health Ministry data updated today. The country reported 810 recoveries and six deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the official data. Additionally, the country’s active cases saw a mild increase and stood at 11,191 and the daily positivity rate at 0.26%.
An increase of 133 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said.
China continues to report record number of Covid infections. China on Friday reported more than 3,400 positive and 20,700 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, majority of which were reported from Shanghai.
South Korea on Friday announced that it will drop most of the pandemic-related restrictions next week, including midnight curfew on eateries. From April 18, the midnight curfew on restaurants and other businesses will be scrapped, along with the cap on private gatherings which was set at 10, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum told a coronavirus response meeting.
While other countries are pulling up their socks regarding Covid related mandates, California is delaying a coronavirus vaccine mandate for schoolchildren until at least the summer of 2023. Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration announced the change on Thursday.
Forty-three people, including 16 children, have tested Covid positive in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar, the district health department said on Thursday. The number of active cases in the district has reached 156 now, the department said.
(With Agency Inputs)
