Social Distancing Must Continue To Curb Covid-19 Spread, Says Govt; India's Doubling Rate Slows Down To 12 Days

Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal stated that in the last 24 hours, 1074 people have been cured adding that it is the highest number in terms of cured patients noted till date.

A health worker sprays disinfectant at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in Chennai. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: India has entered into the third phase of nation-wide lockdown from Monday. According to the mandate by Central government from last week, districts under orange and green zones reporting minimal coronavirus cases, are being given ease in restrictions in terms of carrying out certain economic activities. However, Union Health Ministry has continued to preach social distancing in order to curb the spread of deadly virus. Addressing the media on Monday afternoon, Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal stated India is in continuous efforts to control the pandemic and to a great extent, the nation has been successful.

Total no. of people with #COVID19 - 42,533 No. of people under active medical supervision - 29,453 In last 24 hours - 2,553 new cases, 1,074 recoveries (highest in 1 day) Total no. of recoveries - 11,706, recovery rate - 27.52% - @MoHFW_INDIA #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/a116f7HMjL

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 4, 2020

Speaking at the media conference, Lav Agrawal said that "till now, 11,706 people have been cured. In the last 24 hours, 1074 people have been cured. This is the highest number in terms of cured patients noted till date." Joint Secretary continued with Coronavirus updates from across the country where he mentioned that India has reported a decent recovery rate. " Our recovery rate is now 27.52%. Total number of Covid-19 cases is now 42,533," said Lav Agrawal.

Doubling time of #COVID19 cases has improved from 3.4 before lockdown to 12 days today, lockdown and containment efforts are yielding results, our challenge now is how to further improve these results, to further increase doubling time - JS, @MoHFW_INDIA #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/PWft8Gf8Ju

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 4, 2020

He added that though the recovery rate is commendable, yet the states and country as whole need to maintain self discipline and follow norms of social distancing otherwise cases of Coronavirus will spike to an uncontrollable level. In pandemics such as Covid-19, historically it has been noted that if social distancing is not respected when social mobility is allowed, chances of disease transmission increase rapidly once restrictions are eased," Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal said.

Empowered Group 6 has mobilized over 92,000 NGOs/CSOs, appealing them to assist State Governments & District Administrations in identifying hotspots & delivering essential services to the vulnerable including the homeless, daily wage & migrant workers-@amitabhk87, Chairman, EG 6 pic.twitter.com/JZUXvytNnY

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 4, 2020

Briefing the media about on aspirational districts, Amitabh Kant, Chairman of Empowered Group 6 stated as of now, there are about 610 cases of Covid-19 in 112 aspirational districts which is considered fairly low at less than 2 per cent of the national level of infections. Of these, six districts have reported first case after April 21." As of now, more than 42,000 people have been affected by novel Coronavirus. India has 29,453 active cases. While 11,706  patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, 1,376 people have lost their lives in the country till now.