New Delhi (NVI): India is unlikely to see a situation that has been witnessed in the developed nations badly hit by coronavirus but preparations have been made for the worst situation, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today.
He said the COVID fatality rate in India is as low as 3.3 per cent, while the recovery rate has risen to 29.9 per cent, which are very good indicators.
India has so far reported 59,662 cases of COVID-19, of which 17,847 patients have recovered while 1,981 have died.
“The fatality rate in the country is around is 3.3 per cent and recovery rate is 29.9 per cent. As of yesterday, there were 2.41 per cent active COVID-19 patients in ICU,” Vardhan said.
He said the testing capacity has also increased in the country, which is 95,000 tests per day with 332 government laboratories and 121 private laboratories. Cumulatively, 15,25,631 tests have been conducted so far, the minister said.
He said appropriate measures are being taken to combat COVID-19 and with the collaborative efforts of both the Centre and States.
In addition, the Centre is extending support by providing sufficient number of masks and Personal Protective Equipments, Ventilators etc. to the States/ UTs/Central Institutions, the Union Minister said.
Vardhan, while reviewing COVID-19 management in the eight states of North East through video conferencing, advised them to ensure that the returning migrant labourers and those returning from abroad are screened and quarantined as per the guidelines by Ministry of Health.
He said four states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya — have not reported new cases in the last 28 days, leaving only Assam and Tripura with active cases.
Yesterday, Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said people must learn to start living with coronavirus. He added that preventive guidelines against the virus need to be implemented as behavioral changes.
