Centre says Covid situation has gone from bad to worse

India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,21,49,335 with 53,480 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,14,34,301, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death count increased to 1,62,468 with 354 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Meanwhile, the Covid situation in India has been becoming “bad to worse over the last few weeks,” the Centre said on Wednesday.

“Trends show the virus is still very active just when we think we can control it, it sparks back,” said VK Paul, chairman of the National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration. He, however, denied that the mutated strains have a role to play in this surge.

States are being told to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour — “Use the law, use fine… people need to wear a mask,” he said.