Covid Spurt In J&K, Odisha, Uttarakhand "Matter Of Concern": Health Minister

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that there has been a very rapid increase in the number of cases across the country, which has increased the pressure on health services in the last few weeks.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday expressed concern over the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases in eight states and Union Territories, and said the pace of surge is worrisome. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, these states/UT are depicting a high growth rate in the number of daily cases, higher mortality, very high and growing positivity rate. "The growing cases in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Uttarakhand is a matter of concern. Cases are increasing again in Punjab and other variants are being found apart from the UK variant. In Haryana and Bihar, the rate of Covid positive has increased. Cases are increasing very rapidly in Jammu and Kashmir and different variants are being found there. However, the situation in Telangana is getting a little better," the Minister said while interacting with State Health Ministers and Principal Secretaries/ Additional Chief Secretaries of 8 states/UT including--Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana. Dr Harsh Vardhan said that there has been a very rapid increase in the number of cases across the country, which has increased the pressure on health services in the last few weeks.