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Health Secretary writes to Maharashtra govt: 'State heading for a second COVID wave'

MUMBAI: Expressing concern over Maharashtra’s persistent rising cases of COVID-19, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to the State government, cautioning that the State was in the throes of 'a second wave' of the pandemic unless immediate steps are taken. 

Bhushan's letter to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte comes after a Central team had inferred that the administrative mechanism in the State should be re-instated to the level witnessed in August - September last year to contain/suppress the COVID-19 transmission.

The letter criticising the state administration for inadequate contact-tracing efforts urges that it must focus on strict and effective containment strategies and plan for a worst-case scenario. It says that the measures like weekend lockdowns and night curfews (currently being deployed by the State government in some parts), has had a very limited impact on containing or suppressing the transmission.

The letter observes that the number of active cases in the State had risen by an incredible 171.5% over the last one month, with cases shooting up from 36,917 on February 11 to 1,00,240 on March 11. It also points out that 8 of the top 10 districts of India in terms of active COVID-19 infections were in Maharashtra.

Since the last fortnight, Maharashtra has been reporting a daily jump of more than 10,000 cases, which has increased to 15,000 in the past few days. The State’s active case tally has surged past the 1.30-lakh mark.

Union Health Secretary has specifically stressed on the fact that the only way to rein in the contagion was to ramp up the pace of vaccination, especially in those districts witnessing a steep case surge.

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  • Swapnil Mhaske
    Swapnil Mhaske

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