7 Covid deaths for 2nd day; Delhi sees 2 casualties

New Delhi: India recorded seven Covid deaths for the second consecutive day on Thursday with Maharashtra reporting a maximum three such deaths in the last 24 hours. Delhi and Karnataka reported two Covid deaths each.

In Delhi, the govt said, a five-month-old child with a history of seizure disorder and an 87-year-old man with a history of heart and kidney disease died with Covid-19.

All three Covid deaths reported from Maharashtra involved elderly persons with a history of comorbidities, while in Karnataka, the deaths involved a 65-year-old cancer patient and a 42-year-old man with a history of respiratory illness.

The total number of Covid deaths in the country this year has now reached 51, with Maharashtra recording maximum 17 such deaths, followed by Kerala (9), Delhi (7), Karnataka (6), Tamil Nadu (4), Gujarat (2), UP (2) and one each from Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

The Covid tally has touched 4,866 with Kerala, Delhi, and Maharashtra being worst affected. Official sources from the health ministry said that most people suffering from the infection have mild symptoms and are recovering at home. They added that Covid deaths are being reported primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses.

The sources, however, said that instructions have been issued to states and UTs to ensure readiness to manage any potential crisis. This includes to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines.

The current surge in Covid-19 cases in India and several other countries, for example China and Hong Kong, is suspected to be fueled by the emergence of new sub-variants - NB.1.8.1 and four cases of LF.7 - of SARS-COV2, the virus that causes Covid-19.