Highlights:
- The second wave of Covid-19 is not yet over as nearly 30,000 new cases reported every day.
- According to the health ministry, rising R-Value in eight states is causing concern.
- The R number is a method of determining how quickly Covid-19 or any other disease can spread.
The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, triggered by Delta, is still ongoing, with the ‘R-Value’ increasing in eight states, according to the Central Government, which described it as a “significant problem.” The government’s comments were prompted by fears of a third wave.
The states with the highest R factors are Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Kerala.
According to statistics, the number of daily new cases of coronavirus reported around the world is remained high, with more than 4.7 lakh infections reported per day.
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Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said during a routine briefing on Covid-19, “Covid-19 cases are being recorded in large numbers all across the world, and the epidemic is far from ending. In India, the second wave is still going strong.”
“On average, the United States, Canada, Australia, and India have a R number of 1.2. This means that a single infected person can infect multiple people. In eight Indian states, the R number is high,” Agarwal said.
In the week ending August 2, 44 districts across 12 states and Union Territories recorded a weekly Covid-19 positive rate of over 10%, according to the Centre.
A surge in daily new Covid cases has been reported in 18 districts across six states in the last four weeks, including Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Kerala had recorded 49.85 percent of the total coronavirus cases in the previous week, according to the data.
According to the Center, the total number of coronavirus vaccination doses given out in July was more than double that of May.
What is the R number?
The R number is a technique of assessing the spreadability of Covid-19 or any other disease. The R number is also used to determine growth rate and current cases.
According to a Union Health Ministry official, it is the average number of new infections generated by one infected individual during the course of the infectious period.
When the R number is greater than one, it indicates that the case trajectory is increasing and must be managed, Agarwal continued.
The number of people infected with the coronavirus in India increased to 3,17,26,507 on Tuesday, with 30,549 more people testing positive for the infection, while the active caseload decreased after six days.
According to data updated at 8 a.m. by the Union health ministry, the death toll has risen to 4,25,195, with 422 new fatalities.