Surge in COVID cases in Maharashtra due to inappropriate behaviour, reduced testing, says Health Ministry

Coronavirus situation in Maharashtra is very concerning and the trend is worrisome, said the union health ministry on Thursday, adding that the reduced testing, tracing and inappropriate behaviour has led to the surge in infections.

“We are very worried about Maharashtra. This is a serious matter. This has two lessons- don’t take the virus for granted and if we have to remain Covid free, then, we need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour, said Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

The health ministry also pointed out towards the surge saying that the increase in trend is due reduced testing, tracing and COVID-19 inappropriate behaviour.

“Maharashtra has shown a worrisome trend, the mutant strain has not been found incriminating in this surge in cases. It is just related to reduced testing, tracking and tracing and Covid inappropriate behaviour and large congregations,” ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said at a briefing.

India administered nearly 2,56,90,545 vaccine doses, till 1 pm on Thursday. The government said that it will re-negotiate the price for the vaccine which is significantly lower.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 11 said strict lockdown measures will be enforced in some parts of the state to contain the spread of COVID-19.

As Health Ministry data, Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 14,317 new coronavirus cases, the highest one-day spike this year, which took the state’s caseload to 22,66,374. There are 1,06,070 active cases in the state.

Meanwhile, the ministry said the situation in Kerala is improving and informed the active Covid-19 cases have almost halved in the state in the past few days while cases in Maharashtra have doubled.