Shortness of breath has been observed in 47.5% of hospitalised patients in the second Covid-19 wave, compared to 41.7% in the first wave in September-November.
As per Indian Council of Medical Research statistics, dry cough was the primary symptom in the earlier wave, with 43.5% of patients reporting it. It was higher than shortness of breath as a symptom, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava has said.
The government also tried to contradict the narrative that the younger population was being infected now.
Niti Aayog member VK Paul said, “The older population above 40 years still remains more vulnerable.”
The data of National Clinical Registry for Covid-19 shows there is not much change in the mean age of people infected by Covid-19.
In the first wave, the mean age for people hospitalised was 50.4 years and in the second wave 48.9 years.
Bhargava said, “more than 70% of patients in both the waves have been more than 40 years. Older population continues to be more susceptible. In the first wave 4.2% of the people infected were between 0-19 years and in the second wave 5.8% are in this age group – this is just marginally higher.”
The government maintained that in the second wave ventilator requirement was less and oxygen requirement was high.