On the day of the first year anniversary of the COVID-19 induced lockdown, a jarring report claims that a second major surge of Coronavirus cases is here in India. As of 25th March 2021, there are 395,192 active COVID-19 cases in India and a trend can be seen where cases are on the rise especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Highlighting the fact that new cases of coronavirus are on the rise, the State Bank of India (SBI) in a special report named - Second wave of infections: The beginning of the end? - mentioned that the methods used by state authorities trying to prevent the spread of Coronavirus has remained "ineffective".
“India is witnessing a second wave of infection beginning February 2021, with daily new cases rising again. Pan-India total cases in the second wave expected in the order of 25 lakhs (based on trends in data till 23-Mar)," the report authored by Soumya Kanti Ghosh, SBI Group Chief Economic Adviser, mentioned.
READ: Not Right To Call RSS A 'Sangh Parivar', Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Explains
"Considering the number of days from the current level of daily new cases to the peak level during the first wave, India might reach the peak in the second half of April,” the report further said.
The report further stated that only the mass vaccination process can help India emerge out of this second surge situation. “Lockdown ineffective, mass vaccination is the only hope. This is visible in the case of many states including Maharashtra and Punjab,” it said.
ALSO READ: People Aged Above 45 Yrs Now Eligible For Covid-19 Vaccine From April 1
Meanwhile, as per Union Health Ministry, India on Thursday recorded 53,476 fresh cases of coronavirus in a day. This is the biggest single-day jump in over five months.