India's COVID-19 fatality rate drops to 2.80%

Stating that the fatality rate has dropped to 2.80 percent, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that the country is in a better position to fight the pandemic. Officials in the Health Ministry said that the testing capacity in the country has also increased through 480 government and 208 private laboratories.

New Delhi: Even as India's total coronavirus positive cases crossed 2 lakh, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that the country is in a better position to fight the pandemic as the fatality rate drops to 2.80 per cent.

During the last 24 hours, a total of 4776 COVID-19 patients have been cured.

Officials in the Health Ministry said that the testing capacity in the country has also increased through 480 government and 208 private laboratories.

"A total of 137158 samples were tested yesterday taking the total testing number till date to 41,03,233," officials said.

Government statistics said that there are 952 dedicated COVID hospitals with 166332 isolation beds, 21393 ICU beds, and 72762 oxygen beds.

There are 2391 dedicated COVID health care centres with 134945 isolation beds, 11027 ICU beds, and 46875 oxygen supported beds.

In another development, the Union Home Ministry has relaxed the visa and travel restrictions for certain categories of foreign nationals including businessmen, healthcare professionals, engineers, and technical specialists.

While giving the relaxations, the Home Ministry said that the foreign nationals would have to obtain a fresh business visa or employment visa, as applicable.

"Foreign nationals holding a valid long term multiple-entry business visa issued by the Indian Missions abroad would have to get the business visa re-validated from the Indian Missions," the ministry said.