NEW DELHI: In the wake of the rise in Covid-19 cases over the past week, the central government has directed five states to take pre-emptive actions. With this, fear has spread about whether the country is going towards a fourth Covid wave. In a first since 84 days, Covid cases have crossed 4,000. A sum of 26 deaths were recorded.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had written to the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, asking to take strict action. In Kerala, most cases were reported in the districts of Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kannur, Malappuram and Wayanad.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has asked the health workers of the city to increase Covid tests in order to counter the fourth wave. It has been suggested to open war rooms in areas where more cases have been reported. Experts from IIT Kanpur are of the opinion that the fourth Covid wave will hit Mumbai city by the month of July. Currently, around 8,000 tests are conducted daily. This will be increased to around 30,000 to 40,000. The state government has directed all district administrations to increase the tests.