Covid death toll crosses 28,000 mark; biggest spurt in July cases in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Fresh Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country dipped slightly from the previous day’s count, with 37,009 new infections emerging on Monday while 593 deaths were reported, taking the total toll past the 28,000 mark. The number of people who have recovered from the infection crossed 7 lakh even as active cases went past 4 lakh.

July has so far seen 5.7 lakh cases, nearly as many as infections reported in all previous months put together (5.8 lakh), while 10,662 deaths have been recorded in the month so far.

Data from state governments reveals that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have had the biggest spurt in cases in July among all states.

July cases account for 76% of all cases in Karnataka and 71% in Andhra. They are followed by Assam (66%), Telangana, Kerala and Goa (all 64%), Bihar (62%), Odisha (59%) and Bengal (56%). For the country as a whole, 48% of total cases have come in July so far. Delhi has controlled the infection the best during the month, with just 29% of its cases having come in July.

In deaths, Goa had the highest share in July of 86%, followed by Karnataka (82%), Assam (77%), Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (both 73%). Overall, 37% of all Covid-19 deaths in India have been reported in July. Gujarat had the lowest share of total deaths in July at 14%, indicating that while cases had been gradually increasing the state, fatalities were well under control. The data was analysed till July 19.

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On Monday, daily cases reported in India were nearly 3,000 less than the previous day’s record high of 40,363. This was in keeping with the trend of a dip in cases on Mondays seen over the past 11 weeks. Daily deaths too dropped from 673 reported on Sunday to 593. Uttar Pradesh, however, reported its highest single-day toll of 46 deaths.

The toll in Maharashtra was 176, down sharply from Sunday’s number of 258, while Karnataka (72), Tamil Nadu (70), Andhra Pradesh (54) and Bengal continued to report high fatalities.

Fresh cases too dipped in Maharashtra, down nearly 1,300 from Sunday’s record high to 8,240. However, Tamil Nadu (4,985 new cases), Bengal (2,282), Gujarat (998), Rajasthan (956), Punjab (410), Goa 196 (joint highest with July 17) reported their biggest single-day spike in cases.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) crossed the 2 lakh mark in Covid-19 cases on Monday, setting another grim milestone for the state that now has an overall caseload of 3,18,695. While Mumbai has contributed a little over one lakh cases, the other one lakh has come from Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad that continue to add to the case tally in significant numbers.

MMR added 3,235 cases on Monday, of which 1,035 cases were from Mumbai and a majority (2,200) from other parts of the region.

In its lowest 24-hour tally in the past five days, Karnataka reported 3,648 fresh Covid-19 cases and Bengaluru counted 1,452 cases, the least in six days. The state reported 72 deaths, 31 of these coming from Bengaluru.

In Rajasthan, the spike in Covid-19 cases continued, with the active cases too increasing significantly in different districts. Seven districts in the state have more than 400 active cases. Among the districts with more than 400 active cases are Jodhpur (1,275), Alwar (880), Jaipur (852), Bikaner (756), Pali (629), Ajmer (477) and Barmer (456). On July 1, only Jaipur had more than 400 active cases.