'Superspreader Events Like Weddings Behind Recent Covid Surge', Says Govt Panel

India recorded around 40,000 new coronavirus infections on Friday, the highest single-day rise in 2021, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,15,14,331, according to Union Health Ministry data.

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Amid the sudden spike in Coronavirus cases in the country, the central government said that superspreader events such as weddings appear to have driven the resurgence of Covid-19 in India. The government also said that these are just the preliminary assessment and citizens being ignorant about the virus and not wearing masks are also contributing to the rising number of cases. 

“That (role of superspreader events) is what it looks like, as people have become lax in their behaviour. We must understand that there is still a large section of population that is vulnerable, especially in villages. We cannot afford to lower our guard at this stage and should avoid mass gatherings as it can become superspreading events,” Dr VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog reportedly said, according to Hindustan Times.

India recorded around 40,000 new coronavirus infections on Friday, the highest single-day rise in 2021, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,15,14,331, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The daily rise in infections (39,726) was the highest recorded in 110 days, while the death toll increased to 1,59,370 with 154 daily new fatalities.

Dr Paul said that testing, especially RT-PCR testing needs to be increased in districts reporting high positivity rate.

Recently, a large gathering of people at a funeral turned into a super spreading even in Telangana where 33 people got infected after attending a funeral on February 18.