A record fall was observed in cases in the third wave. In the second week of declining infections, a decrease of 45% was observed.

India reported 84,584 fresh infections on Sunday, which was below 1 lakh for the first time in over a month since January 5. A total of just over 9.7 lakh cases were reported in the week ending Sunday (January 31-February 6) which was 44.7% less than the previous week′s tally of 17.6 lakh. The week (January 24-30) showed the first drop in infections during the third wave with cumulative cases decreasing by 19%. Omicron cases had shown exponential growth around an increase of six-fold in one week (January 3-9). 

India reported over 4,350 deaths during the current week, a rise of nearly 16% from the toll recorded in the preceding seven days (3,769).  But the rise was slowing down, indicating that the peak in deaths could be near. A 41% increase in fatalities was observed the previous week while in the week before that 92% deaths were reported. 

If the deaths from earlier periods were added to the toll as part of data reconciliation, the total death count would rise by 7,819 this week, the highest since June 21-27, last year.  

All states and UTs, except Mizoram, reported a fall in weekly cases. Kerala was the latest state to report a drop in infections.

Source: ET Healthworld