Data shows how 51-60 age group recovered from Omicron in Maharashtra

A beneficiary receives a vaccine dose at Nair hospital, on April 15. Pic/Ashish Raje

Citizens in the age group of 51-60 years fought well against Covid during the third wave, compared to the previous ones. The deaths from this group comprised 12 per cent of all fatalities, down from nearly 24 per cent in the first and second waves, showed an analysis by the government. Those in the 31-40 age group, who had to step out to earn a living, topped the infection figures.

Though the third wave receded without causing much damage, the recent data on the cases and deaths in Maharashtra over the last two years shows how the pandemic affected the health of various age groups. The analysis has been done year-wise after adding around 3,500 deaths over the past two years - earlier shown as non-Covid deaths - following the instruction from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Among all age groups, the 31-40 category bore the maximum brunt of the virus in terms of infections. This group comprised 21-24 per cent of cases. The cases in the 21-30 age group stood at 17 to 21 per cent.

A swab sample being collected at Vidhan Bhavan on March 1. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Of all deaths in all categories, most were of senior citizens between 61 and 70 years. In 2020, of the 54,547 deaths analysed, 30 per cent of the victims were between 61 and 70, followed by the 51-60 group at 24 per cent. In 2021, of the 88,915 deaths, the first category comprised 27.5 per cent, while the second at 23 per cent.

But in the recent wave, the deaths in the 51-60 age group came down to 12 per cent of the total deaths. While experts had warned that the third wave would be harsh on children, it mostly spared the kids. The share of deaths in the under-19 group increased from 0.5 per cent to 2.1 per cent.

"Unlike earlier waves, now common people can be protected with the help of vaccination and mask. It is observed that only debilitated people with severe comorbidities are at risk. People above 71 years found it challenging to recover, while those in the 51-60 year group recovered fast compared to the earlier two waves. Even people between 41 and 50 years were most affected in the second wave but now the mortality rate in the age group has come down," said Dr Avinash Supe, head of Covid deaths review committee of the state. He added that though the case fatality rate among children is lower the actual number of deaths increased slightly due to non-vaccination and the start of schools.

12%
Deaths in 51-60 category compared to all fatalities