New Delhi: In a major achievement for India’s healthcare system, the COVID-19 recoveries have crossed 1 million mark in the country, Health Ministry said today. Briefing media, OSD in Health Ministry said, it was possible due to the selfless work, dedication and commitment to duty shown by our Doctors, Nurses and frontline Medicare workers.
He said, recovery rate among COVID-19 patients increased from 7.85 per cent in April to 64.44 per cent today.
Recovery rate almost double of active cases
Recoveries have become almost 1.9 times the number of active cases of COVID-19. The Health Ministry Official said, effective clinical management led to decline in COVID-19 case fatality rate from 3.33 per cent on 18th June to 2.21 per cent yesterday.
He said, due to enhanced testing infrastructure, on an average 4,68,263 Covid-19 tests were conducted daily from 26th to 30th July.
Less than 10% Covid-19 positivity rate have been reported in 21 states and Union Territories. Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir have less than 5 per cent positivity rate.
1.82 crore samples tested till date
India has so far conducted 1.82 crore tests for coronavirus, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.
“The enhanced testing infrastructure has led to a sharp increase in the cumulative testing from 88 lakh total tests (1st July 2020) to nearly 1.82 crore (30th July 2020). The Tests Per Million (TPM) has subsequently increased to 13,181,” said a press statement from the MoHFW.
“4,46,642 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. The average daily tests (on a rolling week on week basis) have increased from 2.4 lakh in the first week of July to more than 4.68 lakh in the last week of July,” the statement read.
The Ministry said, The testing lab network in the country is continuously strengthened with 1321 labs in the country, as on date; 907 labs in the government sector and 414 private labs. “These include: Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs: 676 (Govt: 412 + Private: 264), TrueNat based testing labs: 541 (Govt: 465 + Private: 76) and CBNAAT based testing labs: 104 (Govt: 30 + Private: 74)” the Ministry further said.
Herd immunity in India not a strategic option, says Health Ministry
Herd immunity developed against coronavirus cannot be a strategic option or choice for a country like India with a huge population, said an official from the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
“In a country like India with its size and population, herd immunity cannot be a strategic choice or strategic option. It can only be an outcome and that too, a very high cost. That means, thousands or lakhs of patients get infected, they go to a hospital for treatment, resulting in a large fatality and hence, herd immunity can never be a strategic option,” said Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the union health ministry.
Kerala govt allows home treatment for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients
The Kerala government issued an order on Thursday allowing asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in Thiruvananthapuram to undergo treatment from their homes.
The order has been issued only for Thiruvananthapuram at present. The city currently has more than 3,000 COVID patients.
“All COVID-19 Positive Asymptomatic Patients may be allowed to stay in isolation in a suitable residential facility if he/she has at least an independent room with toilet facility. This would be subject to verification by Ward level committee of the residential dwelling” the order by Thiruvananthapuram district collector said.
3 vaccine candidates in phase III across world
In the development related to the COVID-19 vaccine across the world, only 3 vaccine candidates are in phase III clinical trials across the globe. These three coronavirus vaccine candidates are from the USA, UK (University of Oxford’s vaccine) and China, informed the official from the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
While there are 24 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in clinical evaluation, 141 vaccine candidates are in pre-clinical evaluation stage across the world, said the official.
“Once, the phase III clinical trial is done, then they can take concerned regulator’s permissions and proceed for manufacturing the vaccine. These three vaccine candidates who are in phase II are from the USA, UK (University of Oxford’s vaccine) and China,” Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty at the health ministry.
WHO in its bulletin issued on July 24 stated that 24 vaccine candidates are in the stage of clinical evaluation across the globe and 141 vaccine candidates are in the pre-clinical evaluation stage.
“This means that there are 24 vaccine candidates in the clinical trial stage are in phase I, II or III done on human volunteers at multi-centric sites. While 141 vaccine candidates are in research or animal studies are being done under and these are under pre-clinical evaluation stage,” said Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty at the health ministry.
2 Indian vaccines in Phase I, II trial stage
In the Indian scenario, there are two indigenously developed vaccines. “Clinical trials for phase I, II of both the vaccine candidates have started. At present, the clinical trial is being done on 1,150 subjects for one of the vaccine candidate at eight sites. At least 1,000 subjects have participated for a clinical trial for another indigenously developed vaccine candidate,” Bhushan said.
