India has reported a rise in active Covid-19 cases, which now stand at 4,866, with seven deaths recorded in the past 24 hours as of 8 am on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Among the fatalities, two each were reported from Delhi and Karnataka, while Maharashtra recorded three deaths.
Kerala reported the highest number of new infections on Wednesday with 114 cases, followed by Karnataka (112), West Bengal (106), and Delhi (105).
In response to the uptick in cases, the Centre is set to conduct a nationwide Covid-19 mock drill today, as reported by CNN-News18. The Union Health Ministry will assess hospital preparedness across the country, focusing on oxygen supply systems, availability of essential medicines, and the status of ventilators in key medical facilities.
This exercise is aimed at gauging the readiness of healthcare infrastructure in the event of a potential new wave of Covid-19. The current surge is being linked to the highly transmissible NB.1.8.1 sub-variant, a descendant of the Omicron lineage.
Covid mock drills ordered
The central government has directed hospitals across the country to conduct facility-level mock drills on Thursday to evaluate their preparedness in light of the rising number of Covid-19 cases. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, active Covid cases have surpassed the 4,000 mark.
All states have been directed to ensure the availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines in response to the rising number of Covid cases.
A series of technical review meetings were conducted on June 2 and 3, chaired by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Sunita Sharma.
Six new cases recorded in Gurugram
Six new Covid-19 cases were reported in Gurugram on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections in the district to 40 so far in June, according to the district health department.
Among the newly infected are an 18-year-old who recently traveled to Goa and a 28-year-old with a travel history to Panipat. The remaining cases include a 42-year-old man from Sector 15, a 35-year-old man from Sector 5, a 27-year-old woman from Sector 57, and a 23-year-old woman from Sector 14. Health officials said all six patients are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms and are currently in home isolation.