New Delhi (NVI): India is “definitely not in community transmission” as of now, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s nodal testing agency said today, amid speculations over a spike in Covid-19 cases in Delhi and Mumbai over the past few days.
Prof Balram Bhargava, DG ICMR, during a press conference here said that even the WHO has not given a clear definition of community transmission and no conclusion can be reached currently in India as it is a large country.
At the same time, the ICMR DG said that there is a need to continue with the strategy of testing, tracing, tracking, quarantine and containment measures. “We should not give up our guard on these,” he said.
“India is such a large country and prevalence is very low. India is not in community transmission,” he added.
He further said that lockdown measures have been successful in keeping the Covid infection low and preventing its rapid spread.
Reportedly, the statement comes after ICMR informed that 0.73 per cent of the population in 83 districts where Sero-survey was conducted, had evidence of past exposure to coronavirus infection.
As per Sero-survey, a large proportion of the population is still susceptible to COVID-19, the ICMR stated.
The ICMR DG also stated, “India’s mortality per lakh population is 0.59, which is also among lowest in the world.”
Meanwhile, India’s Covid-19 recovery rate showed an improvement amid the novel coronavirus cases rising in the country, the Health Ministry stated.
India’s coronavirus tally has surged past 2.86 lakh and reached 2,86,579, while the death toll has reached 8,102.
