States should adhere to public health strategy: Health Ministry

About 48 per cent of total COVID-19 deaths in the country are concentrated in 25 districts of 8 states, out of which 15 districts are in Maharastra alone, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. The Ministry reiterated that state government should strictly adhere to the public health strategy in view of the coming festive season.

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday reiterated that state government should strictly adhere to the public health strategy in view of the coming festive season.

Addressing a press briefing, Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said India has recorded the highest number of recoveries from COVID-19 at over 56 lakh and India has also conducted the second-highest number of tests in the world at 8.10 crore.

"When we are fighting against COVID 19 pandemic, all states should adhere to the public health strategy especially when festive season and winter is approaching," said Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan.

He suggested state governments be extra cautious while dealing with Covid19 in the coming days.

Talking to India's fight against COVID 19 pandemic, Bhushan said that the COVID recovery of more than 56 lakh patients is highest in the world. "India has also conducted highest Covid19 tests of 8 crores till date, is also the highest in the world," said Bhushan.

He said that active cases remain below 10 lakhs for the last two weeks whereas recovery rate is more than 84 per cent. Giving Covid19 statistics, Bhushan said that Since September 9, the number of average New cases is decreasing in the country.

"Between September 9 to 15, India recorded 92,830 day new cases, it came down to 90,346 from September 16 to 22, it came down to 83,232 in September 23 to 29 and from September 30 to October 6, the number of daily new cases came down to 77,113," said Bhushan.

India's daily positivity rate is also decreasing from 9.21 per cent from September 16 to 22 to 6.82 per cent from September 30 to October 6.

He expressed concern that 10 states including Maharastra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Chhatisgarh and West Bengal are accounting 77 per cent of the total active cases.

Ironically, Maharastra contributes 27 per cent and Karnataka contributes 13 per cent of total active cases.

Bhushan said that 48 per cent of total deaths (103569) are reported from 25 districts of 8 states including Maharastra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

"Almost 1 in 2 of total deaths In the country are concentrated in 25 districts in 8 states, out of which 15 districts are in one state alone (Maharastra)," said Bhushan.

Bhushan informed that the central government has cleared 95 insurance claim of Rs 50 lakh from the kin of deceased frontline health workers. "More 176 claims are under examination of the naruonal insurance company and 79 claims are yet to be received from the state government, " said Bhushan.

Dr Balram Bhargava, director-general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) referring to the Plasma therapy issue said, "Study finds that the therapy is neither able to stop mortality nor arrest the progression of the infection."