The past three weeks have seen a steady rise in Covid-19 infections in India, though overall detections remain very low-1,898 new cases were reported last week- and there’s no increase in fatalities. India saw a week-on-week spike of 63% in the seven days ending Sunday, after a 39% rise in the previous week and a 13% rise the week before. In fact, cases have been inching up for five straight weeks. South India and Maharashtra account for most of the new cases.

No rise in deaths
While the spurt in flu infections across the country has been getting attention in recent days, Covid-19 cases have been quietly inching up. The past three weeks have seen a steady rise in Covid infections although overall detections remain very low and there’s no increase in fatalities.
India registered a week-on-week spike of 63% in the seven days ending Sunday. This followed a 39% increase in the previous week and a 13% rise in the week before.

Last week, 1,898 new Covid cases were recorded in the country as compared to 1,163 and 839 cases in the previous two weeks, respectively, as per TOI’s Covid database. These numbers aren’t significant yet but the steady rise would be a matter of concern.
In fact, cases have been inching up for five straight weeks – the first two weeks saw marginal increases – which is the longest period of rise since July last year, when the last Covid spike happened in the country with weekly infections peaking at 1.4 lakh in July 18-25. Since then, Covid cases have been declining steadily except for three short periods lasting no more than two weeks. Weekly cases hit a low of 707 in January 23-29.

South India and Maharashtra accounted for the bulk of new cases last week (February 27-March 5), with Karnataka recording the highest number at 473, up from 230 two weeks ago, followed by Kerala 410 (298 two weeks ago) and Maha 287 (185).