Bracing For A Rapid Surge In Cases: Govt.

Death toll touches 273 nationwide, with 127 in Maharashtra; Kerala bucks trend with only two new cases

- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

With the nationwide death toll from COVID-19 touching 273 and the number of positive cases reaching 8,447 on Sunday, the Union Health Ministry said India is preparing for a possible exponential surge in cases.

“We would rather be overcautious and over-prepared,” a Ministry official said while admitting that the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in some countries was a matter of concern.

According to data released by the Ministry, the country registered as many as 909 new cases and 34 deaths since Saturday evening. The fatalities included 17 from Maharashtra, five from Delhi and three each from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. As many as 716 persons have been cured/discharged after treatment.

Amid demands for ramping up health surveillance, the Centre said it is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in State-run as well as private medical colleges.

The Centre’s proposals came even as a Punjab police officer’s hand was chopped off in a brutal attack on a team enforcing lockdown restrictions amid reports that plans were underway to ease some curbs during the likely extension of the lockdown.

According to reports from the State Health Departments, the total number of cases stood at 9,205, with 7,880 active ones. The death toll was 332.