India’s Covid count over 2.6 lakh, daily spike inching close to 10,000
NEW DELHI: Despite a record rise in COVID-19 cases in India for the sixth consecutive day that has pushed the tally to over 2.6 lakh and the daily nationwide spike in Coronavirus cases inching close to 10,000, Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan has affirmed that the country is better positioned in the fight against the deadly virus in comparison to others, but there is no space for complacency.
Notably, India on Tuesday recorded an increase of 9,987 fresh cases of Coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The total tally climbed to 2,66,598, which includes 1,29,917 active cases, 1,29,215 recoveries and 7,466 deaths.
Since the onset of June, the country has also been witnessing over 200 COVID-19 fatalities each day that has taken the national death toll to 7,466. In the last 24 hours, a total of 266 new COVID-19 fatalities and 4,785 recoveries have been reported. The recovery rate stands at 48.47 per cent.
Vardhan, who chaired the 16th meeting of the high-level group of ministers on COVID19 that reviewed the containment strategies pertaining to the pandemic via video-conferencing, said that people need to be more disciplined and adopt appropriate behaviour to ensure norms of physical distancing, use of face covers, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette as the country entered the “Unlock 1.0 phase” when restrictions have been eased and curbs lifted. As per highlyplaced sources, the members present at the GOM discussed in details about all the aspects of sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases, including community transmission.
However, as per sources, the experts present at the meeting ‘assured’ the members of the group that as of now there is no community transmission in the country and explained that cases are increasing due to non-adherence of containment measures.
The GOM was also informed that as on Tuesday, Covidrelated health infrastructure in the country has been strengthened with the availability of 958 dedicated Covid hospitals with 1,67,883 isolation beds, 21,614 ICU and 73,469 oxygen-supported beds.
There are 2,313 dedicated Covid health centres with 1,33,037 isolation beds, 10,748 ICU beds and 46,635 oxygen supported beds in operation. Moreover, 7,525 Covid care centres with 7,10,642 beds and 21,494 ventilators are now available to combat the pandemic in the country.
Meanwhile, the ICMR on Tuesday tested a total of 49,16,116 samples at its 784 laboratories. In the last 24 hours, 1,41,682 samples have been tested.