New Delhi (TIP)-India added 1,49,394 new Covid cases, taking the total tally to 4,19,52,712, while the active cases further declined to 14,35,569, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday, Feb 4. The death toll climbed to 5,00,055 with 1,072 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprised 3.42 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate improved to 95.39 per cent, the ministry said. A reduction of 98,352 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours. The 1,072 new fatalities include 601 from Kerala and 75 from Maharashtra.

Of the 601 deaths in Kerala, 36 were reported in the last 24 hours, 124 were those which occurred in the last few days but were not recorded due to late receipt of documents and 441 were designated as Covid deaths after  receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, the state government said on Thursday.

A total of 5,00,055 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,42,859 from Maharashtra, 56,701 from Kerala, 39,197 from Karnataka, 37,666 from Tamil Nadu, 25,932 from Delhi, 23,277 from Uttar Pradesh and 20,723 from West Bengal.

3rd Covid wave affected youngsters more, sore throat commonest sign: ICMR

The third wave of Covid 19 affected younger people more with sore throat emerging the commonest symptom.

An ICMR analysis of 1,520 (564 fully jabbed and 956 unvaccinated or half jabbed) Covid 19 patients admitted to 37 hospitals between November 15, 2021 and January 17, 2022 revealed the mean age of the hospitalised at 44 years against 55 years in the second wave.

Nearly half – 46 pc—of the hospitalised young had comorbidities and all symptoms were less severe as compared to the second wave.

Among fully vaccinated, 10.2 pc died and 91 pc of these had comorbidities.

Proportion of deaths among unvaccinated was much higher at 22 pc with 83 pc reporting comorbidities.

Oxygen requirement was lesser among jabbed (36.1 pc needed oxygen) as against the unvaccinated (45.5 pc needed Oxygen.).

Percentage of the vaccinated requiring mechanical ventilation was 5.4 pc as against 11.2 pc un-vaccinated.

                Source: PTI and TNS