New Delhi: The number of coronavirus cases in India increased by six per cent during a 24-hour period beginning 8 AM on Friday, marking the lowest daily growth rate of the infection since the total positive cases crossed 100 in mid-March, government sources said.
After a Group of Ministers (GoM) carried out a comprehensive review of the nation-wide response mechanism to the pandemic, the Health Ministry said the recovery rate of more than 20 per cent in India is comparatively better than most of the countries globally.
The total number of people infected with the virus stood at 26,194 while the death toll rose to 779 which included 56 since Friday, the ministry said in its update of nationwide data. It said the total of 56 deaths is maximum reported in the country in a span of 24 hours.
In a statement, the ministry said the GoM headed by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed the testing strategy as well as availability of testing kits across the country along with policy for cluster management and checking the infection in “hotspots”.
“The GoM was apprised that as of now the death rate is around 3.1 per cent while recovery rate is more than 20 per cent, which is comparatively better than most of the countries and may be taken as a positive effect of the lockdown along with the cluster management and containment strategy,” it said.
It said average doubling rate of the cases in the country has been estimated at 9.1 days as of now. On Friday, an official put the figure at 10 days from 7.5 reported earlier this week.
Government sources said the country recorded a six per cent growth in new cases between 8 AM on Friday to 8 AM on Saturday, adding it was the lowest daily growth rate recorded since India crossed 100 cases.
About ramping up availability of key medical equipment, the ministry said over 100,000 PPE and N-95 masks are being manufactured daily in the country. A total of 104 firms are manufacturing PPEs, while three other entities are producing N95 masks.
“The GoM was informed that all districts have been asked to follow and further strengthen their contingency plans to combat COVID-19. The GOM was briefed on the state-wise details of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals along with the adequacy of isolation beds/wards, PPEs, N-95 masks, drugs, ventilators, oxygen cylinders etc,” it said. (PTI)
