New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) fell below 1.5 per cent on Saturday, the Union health ministry said, crediting the Centre-led strategy of ‘test, trace, track and treat’ for keeping coronavirus-related deaths low and within manageable numbers.
Deaths per million population in the country stand at a very low level of 88, it said.
The ministry said 23 states and union territories in the country have a CFR lower than the national average, while 65 per cent of the total deaths so far were recorded in five states.
A total 551 deaths were reported the previous day, according to the ministry.
There is a steady and consistent decline in the number of daily deaths, the ministry said in a statement.
“On a progressive decline, the CFR has dropped to 1.49 per cent as on date. Also, 23 states and UTs have CFR lower than the national average,” it said.
The Centre-led strategy of ‘test, trace, track and treat’ has focused on effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardised clinical management protocols based on a comprehensive Standard of Care approach which includes use of anticoagulants and non-invasive oxygen, the statement said.
The effective implementation of the strategy by state and UT governments has resulted in early identification, prompt isolation and timely clinical management of hospitalised cases, it said.
“These have ensured that India’s COVID mortality is kept low and within manageable numbers,” it added.
The ministry said 65 per cent of the total deaths were recorded in five States — Maharashtra (36.04 pc), Karnataka (9.16 pc), Tamil Nadu (9.12 pc), Uttar Pradesh (5.76 pc) and West Bengal (5.58 pc).
Ten states and UTs — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh — account for 85 per cent of the total deaths, it said.
Six states and UTs registered cumulative deaths below 100, whereas eight states and UTs registered deaths below 1,000, it added. Sixteen states and UTs have recorded deaths below 10,000.
India added 59,454 new recoveries the previous day, while 48,268 new infections were reported.
The total number of recoveries has crossed the 74-lakh mark (7,432,829). (PTI)
