Kerala told to report covid cases every day
Premium- India reported 2,183 covid cases in the last 24 hours, which ministry the claims was because of bunching up of cases
NEW DELHI : The Union health ministry has asked the Kerala government to keep it updated about covid-19 cases daily. The southern state had failed to inform the Centre about daily covid-19 figures over the last five days, as a result of which, on Monday, the state reported a slight uptick in covid numbers. India reported 2,183 cases in the last 24 hours, but the ministry claims the upward trend is due to belated posting of past cases.
“It has been observed that Kerala has reported its state-level covid-19 data after a gap of five days. This has impacted and skewed the status of India’s key monitoring indicators such as cases, death and positivity. India has reported a 90% increase in new cases and 165% positivity in a single day," said Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary, health ministry in a letter to Kerala’s principal health secretary Dr Rajan N. Khobragade.
Daily and diligent reporting of data is critical to a meaningful understanding of the pandemic at the district, state and national level, said the official.
“You are kindly requested to ensure that daily required health details [sharing] is undertaken by the state to the Union health ministry," he said in a letter reviewed by Mint.
At present, India’s active caseload stands at 11,542.
India has administered over 1.86 billion covid vaccine doses so far. The figure comprises three categories of recipients —single dose, double doses and those who have received two doses and a booster shot. It includes adults as well as children who are 12-14 years of age.
Vaccination coverage so far includes 25 million healthcare workers, front line workers. The entire population above 60 years of age has received their booster dose.