The last 10 lakh Covid recoveries were recorded in just 11 days, the Union Health Ministry said today. (File)
New Delhi:
India’s COVID-19 recoveries have crossed 51 lakh, the highest in the world, and the last 10 lakh recoveries have occurred in 11 days, the Union Health Ministry said today , sharing the “big picture” of the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus.
“The number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country has crossed 51 lakh. It is the highest in the world. India took 57 days for one lakh recoveries to become 10 lakh. However, the last 10 recoveries of lakh were recorded in just 11 days. This is a significant fact. It is a big picture, “Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said today.
As the coronavirus count in India stands at 61.45 lakh, which is 12 lakh lower than the Covid number in the United States – the highest in the world – the new cases reported in India every day are of concern. The number remained the highest in the world since August.
However, the government assured that the number of active cases in the country has been steadily declining since September 15 and that India is doing well in terms of cases per million population.
“We only have 4,400 cases per million inhabitants while several countries have over 20,000 cases per million. Our deaths per million are 70; other countries have over 600 deaths per million, ”Bhushan said, adding that only 15% of the whole country were active.
Having warned that more than 90% of the country’s population is still vulnerable to infection, NITI member Aayog (health) VK Paul said the focus is now on targeted testing and monitoring.
“We have increased our testing capacity per day to 15 lakh. COVID-19 tests per million population have exceeded 50,000. Almost 78 lakh tests were performed last week,” Bhushan said.
Mr Paul said that in the coming winter months, when respiratory viruses are more dangerous, we must make efforts to reduce the number of cases. Advise people to follow all Covid safety protocols, especially during festivals.
“The government will provide surveillance and hospital arrangements, but the key is that we as individuals take all precautions,” he said.
The coronavirus pandemic erupted in Wuhan, China less than a year ago and has since infected more than 3.3 million people and claimed the lives of more than 10 lakh worldwide. India is the second most affected country.
