New Delhi: India added 2,47,417 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise in the ongoing wave, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,63,17,927, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated today.The daily positivity rate was recorded at 13.11 per cent — up from 11.5% yesterday — while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 10.80 per cent.
The country also reported 380 new deaths, taking the total fatalities in India to 485,035, while active cases rose to 11,17,531.
The active cases comprise 3.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate decreased to 95.59 per cent, the ministry said.
The Centre on Wednesday said lateral flow tests, which includes rapid-antigen and home-antigen tests, can detect Covid from the third day after exposure to the virus to day eight while the RT-PCR test can diagnose the infection for up to 20 days.
At a press conference, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said on the first day one will test negative whatever tests they undertake.
“It takes time for the virus to grow in your system and that is known as the latent period. From day three it will be detectable in the Lateral Flow Tests and up to day eight which is the infectious period.
“That is why, the discharge policy and home isolation policy are focusing on the seven-day period,” Mr Bhargava explained.
“Omicron Not Common Cold”: Centre Counters Its Epidemiologist
Omicron is not common cold and it is a misconception that is spreading, the government’s top Covid adviser VK Paul said today, a day after the country’s top epidemiologist called Omicron infections as mild as a cold and said everybody would likely catch it.
“Omicron is not common cold. We are seeing this misconception spreading; it’s our responsibility to slow it down. Let’s mask up and get vaccinated, whoever is due,” said Dr Paul, who heads the Covid Task Force.
“It’s a fact that vaccines are helpful to an extent. Vaccination is a critical pillar of our Covid response,” he added while briefing reporters.
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