Fever, muscular weakness among common COVID-19 symptoms during third wave: Centre

KEY STORY

• Amid a surge in daily COVID-19 infections driven by the new Omicron variant in the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has presented a comparison between the second and the third wave of the pandemic in India and specifically Delhi.

• According to the Union health ministry, fever with or without rigors (shivering), cough, irritation in the throat, muscular weakness, and tiredness are the five common symptoms of COVID-19 during the third wave.

• During the weekly briefing, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had on Thursday stated that the study has been done in the national capital but it is believed that these are the most common symptoms during the third COVID wave.

• The health ministry data has revealed that around 99 per cent of patients in Delhi complained of these symptoms. However, fever, cough, throat irritation generally subside after day five.

• The MoHFW further stated that among children between the age of 11 and 18 years, fever is the common symptom along with upper respiratory tract infection, while COVID pneumonia was less this time.

• ‘COVID vaccination coverage crosses 160 cr’Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country has crossed 160.32 crore with  94 per cent of India’s adults having received the first dose, while 72 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

CONCLUSION

A total of 52 per cent of adolescents in the 15-18 age group have received the first dose with Andhra Pradesh topping the list with 91 per cent, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 83 per cent and Madhya Pradesh at 71 per cent, said the Union Health Secretary.

As many as 12 states and union territories including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 100 per cent of the eligible adult population, he added.