India has reported 81,466 fresh Covid-19 cases in the biggest spike of 2021. It also saw 50,356 discharges and 469 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry. With this, the total number of cases in India has gone up to 1,23,03,131. Total recoveries are at 1,15,25,039 and the number of active cases is at 6,14,696. India’s Covid-19 death toll has reached 1,63,396.
Maharashtra continued to report a massive rise in Covid-19 cases with 43,183 fresh cases detected in the last 24 hours. Mumbai was one of the highest contributors recording 8,646 new coronavirus cases within 24 hours, and 18 deaths. In light of the rising cases, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Thursday hinted at a likely restricted lockdown to be announced.
Meanwhile, India launched COVID19 vaccination for all people aged 45 and above from April 1. Seeking to exponentially expand the countrywide anticoronavirus inoculation drive, the Centre has decided to keep all public and private sector COVID19 vaccination centres (CVCs) operational throughout April, including on gazetted holidays.
1.1mn Britons reported having long Covid symptoms
About 1.1 million Britons have reported having long Covid symptoms, figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed.
Of the 1.1 million people from private households, 674,000 were thought to have symptoms that affected their daily life, with 196,000 estimated to have their ability to undertake everyday tasks limited a lot, Xinhua news agency quoted the ONS as saying on Thursday, April 1.
The ONS survey asked people if they had such symptoms as fatigue, muscle pain, and difficulty concentrating over a four-week period ending March 6.
The latest data include those who were self-reported, rather than clinically diagnosed.
Ben Humberstone, head of Health and Life Events at the ONS, told Sky News that the agency was “surprised” by the numbers, adding that “this isn’t like other diseases”.
“Two thirds of those with self-reported long Covid told us it’s limiting their day-to-day activities so they’re not able to do the things they would’ve been able to do before,” Humberstone said.
“And when you think this is most prevalent in people of working ages, that’s going to have a real impact on the world of work, childcare and things day to day we take for granted.”