<p>Amid a global rise in Covid cases driven by BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron, India is also seeing a slow yet steady rise in the number of infections in several states.</p>.<p>This comes as two cases of the new XE variant - a mutant hybrid of Omicron sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2 - have been detected in the country, one each from Maharashtra and Gujarat.</p>.<p>The Union Health Ministry has asked five states -- Kerala, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Mizoram -- to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake prompt steps to manage the Covid spread.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/over-9500-precaution-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-given-on-sunday-1099647.html" target="_blank">Over 9,500 precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines given on Sunday</a></strong></p>.<p>Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has directed these states to conduct regular monitoring and follow up action in emerging areas of concern.</p>.<p>"A sustained and significant decline in the number of Covid-19 cases has been observed in lndia over the past 2 months, with the country reporting less than 1,000 daily new cases for the past few days. Further, the weekly positivity rate has remained below 1 per cent," Bhushan said in the letter.</p>.<p>However, Delhi, Haryana, and Gujarat have seen a rise in the seven-day average of daily cases. Delhi on April 7 saw 176 new cases - the highest daily rise since March 10.</p>.<p>It also reported an increase in weekly new cases - to 826 new cases in the week ending April 8 from 724 new cases in the week ending April 1. It has also seen an increase in positivity in the last week from 0.51 per cent to 1.25 per cent.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/heres-what-we-know-so-far-about-covid-xe-variant-1099476.html" target="_blank">Here's what we know so far about Covid XE variant</a></strong></p>.<p>Haryana reported a surge in seven-day average - 68 on April 9 from 47 on April 4. Weekly new cases in the state rose to 416 in the week ending April 8 from 367 in the week ending April 1. Haryana has also seen an increase in positivity in the last week from 0.51 per cent to 1.06 per cent.</p>.<p>Gujarat reported 34 fresh cases on April 9 - the highest daily count since March 13, while the average also rose to 15 from 9 on April 4.</p>.<p>There is also a slow rise seen in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, about 1.5 million new cases are being reported each day worldwide, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.</p>.<p>"We're seeing 1.5 million new cases each day. Large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. A new wave is sweeping across Europe," Guterres said, while addressing a recent summit on international vaccine sharing scheme COVAX.</p>.<p>The countries seeing new outbreaks in Asia include China, and Hong Kong, and the UK, France, Italy, and the Netherlands in Europe.</p>.<p>Guterres said that some countries are also reporting their highest death rates since the start of the pandemic.</p>.<p>"And yet one third of humanity remains unvaccinated," he lamented. He called out governments and pharmaceutical companies "to work better together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere - not just in wealthy countries".</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Amid a global rise in Covid cases driven by BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron, India is also seeing a slow yet steady rise in the number of infections in several states.</p>.<p>This comes as two cases of the new XE variant - a mutant hybrid of Omicron sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2 - have been detected in the country, one each from Maharashtra and Gujarat.</p>.<p>The Union Health Ministry has asked five states -- Kerala, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Mizoram -- to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake prompt steps to manage the Covid spread.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/over-9500-precaution-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-given-on-sunday-1099647.html" target="_blank">Over 9,500 precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines given on Sunday</a></strong></p>.<p>Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has directed these states to conduct regular monitoring and follow up action in emerging areas of concern.</p>.<p>"A sustained and significant decline in the number of Covid-19 cases has been observed in lndia over the past 2 months, with the country reporting less than 1,000 daily new cases for the past few days. Further, the weekly positivity rate has remained below 1 per cent," Bhushan said in the letter.</p>.<p>However, Delhi, Haryana, and Gujarat have seen a rise in the seven-day average of daily cases. Delhi on April 7 saw 176 new cases - the highest daily rise since March 10.</p>.<p>It also reported an increase in weekly new cases - to 826 new cases in the week ending April 8 from 724 new cases in the week ending April 1. It has also seen an increase in positivity in the last week from 0.51 per cent to 1.25 per cent.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/heres-what-we-know-so-far-about-covid-xe-variant-1099476.html" target="_blank">Here's what we know so far about Covid XE variant</a></strong></p>.<p>Haryana reported a surge in seven-day average - 68 on April 9 from 47 on April 4. Weekly new cases in the state rose to 416 in the week ending April 8 from 367 in the week ending April 1. Haryana has also seen an increase in positivity in the last week from 0.51 per cent to 1.06 per cent.</p>.<p>Gujarat reported 34 fresh cases on April 9 - the highest daily count since March 13, while the average also rose to 15 from 9 on April 4.</p>.<p>There is also a slow rise seen in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, about 1.5 million new cases are being reported each day worldwide, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.</p>.<p>"We're seeing 1.5 million new cases each day. Large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. A new wave is sweeping across Europe," Guterres said, while addressing a recent summit on international vaccine sharing scheme COVAX.</p>.<p>The countries seeing new outbreaks in Asia include China, and Hong Kong, and the UK, France, Italy, and the Netherlands in Europe.</p>.<p>Guterres said that some countries are also reporting their highest death rates since the start of the pandemic.</p>.<p>"And yet one third of humanity remains unvaccinated," he lamented. He called out governments and pharmaceutical companies "to work better together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere - not just in wealthy countries".</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>