24 June,2021 07:22 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
Crowded Avenue road after further ease in Covid-19 induced lockdown restrictions, at Chickpet near Bengaluru, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
States' re-opening strategy in the wake of decline in Covid-19 cases is not "prudent" and might even result in rise in infections as vaccine coverage remains low in many states, global forecasting firm Oxford Economics said on Wednesday.
In a report, it also said, "We remain cautious and maintain our 2021 growth forecast at 9.1 per cent," citing that economic data does not support an upward revision at this point.
Oxford Economics also said vaccination rates are far below the levels deemed to be safe for easing social distancing measures substantially in the more populous and economically important states.
According to the report, reopening has commenced at a faster pace than it had anticipated as states have focused on declining test positivity rates as the guiding factor for easing measures rather than the share of population vaccinated.
"From a daily case count of over 4 lakh during the peak of the second Covid-19 wave, the numbers have been hovering around 50,000 in the last few days and the unlock process is underway across cities.
"This strategy could create a challenge going forward if infections increase again, especially as we head towards the festive months, and vaccine coverage remains low in many states, including the more populous ones," it said.
Oxford Economics noted that while high frequency indicators for June have improved as states have relaxed restrictions, the hit to activity in May appears to be larger than its initial assessment.
"This may lead us to lower our Q2 2021 growth forecast once we have greater clarity on economic progress through June," it added.
India's total tally of Covid-19 cases crossed the 3 crore-mark with one crore infections being added in 50 days. On Wednesday morning, the Union Health Ministry added 50,848 new cases and 1,358 fatalities registered in a span of 24 hours.
A man undergoes Covid-19 test, in New Delhi, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said around 40 cases of the Delta plus variant, which is considered highly infectious and has been classified as a variant of concern (VOC), have been detected sporadically in three states.
"As of now among the samples sequenced (45,000+) in India, Delta plus variant - AY.1 - has been observed sporadically in Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, with around 40 cases identified so far and no significant increase in prevalence," it said in a statement.
Later in the day, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar reported the state's first case of Delta plus variant in Mysuru. The infected person is asymptomatic and none of his contacts have contracted the virus, Sudhakar said, adding that he has been isolated.
The Goa government has increased surveillance along the border adjoining Maharashtra in the wake of the new variant. Since the Delta plus variant has been found in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district adjoining Goa, "surveillance along the border has been stepped up", Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters on Wednesday.
3,00,28,709
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in india so far
3,90,660
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far
6,43,194
Total no. of active cases in India
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