India’s R value, an indicator of how fast infection is spreading, had hit an all-time high of 2.89 in mid-January, but now the wave shows signs of dissipating.
R indicates number of people an infected person can spread Covid to, and depends on transmissibility probability, contact rate and expected time interval in which infection can happen.
As Omicron becomes predominant strain in cities, government warns against complacency based on perception that it is mild. First death from Omicron confirmed in Rajasthan.
This R value is higher than numbers seen in early 2020, when Covid prevention protocols were not in place, mask mandates had not been implemented, and the population was unvaccinated.
Delhi's R for Covid has jumped to 2.54 between 23 & 29 Dec from 1.12 around 17 Dec. R values are higher than those reported at start of pandemic, when people were not vaccinated.
For Delhi, the value of R rose further to 1.30 this week from 1.12 on 17 December. R for Bengaluru has increased to 1.14, while Kolkata’s is also above 1 this week.
The issue of the Muslim quota has the potential to polarise SCs, STs, and OBCs along religious lines in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. It benefits the BJP.
Germany’s erstwhile Christian Democratic Union govt, led by Angela Merkel, prevented sale of small arms to police forces in states they perceived had ‘bad human rights record’.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
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