Nationwide lockdown prevented 37,000-78,000 deaths, says Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Harsh Vardhan cautioned that the battle against the rampaging virus is "far from over", adding that the government is taking all necessary measures
File Image: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

File Image: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said in Parliament that the coronavirus-induced lockdown in the country prevented approximately 14 lakh-29 lakh cases of the dreaded virus as well as 37,000-78,000 deaths. The Minister went on to add that Indian has managed the pandemic "well", adding that coronavirus fatality and recovery rates stand at 1.67% and 77.65%, respectively.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on day two of the ongoing Monsoon Session, Vardhan said the 4 months during which India remained under lockdown helped in creating "additional health infrastructure, in enhancing human resource and in the production of elements such as PPE kits, N95 masks, and ventilators.

"India has been able to limit its cases and death per million to 3,320 cases per million and 55 deaths per million, which are one of the lowest in the world," Harsh Vardhan said.

Vardhan further informed the Upper house that India has been conducting more coronavirus tests than stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He said that COVID-19 testing is about 1 million tests per day which translates to 720 tests per million population per day. This figure, he informed, is much higher than that stipulated by WHO which recommends 140 tests per million per day. A total of 55,189,226 samples were tested till September 11, Vardhan added.

The Minister, however, cautioned that the battle against the rampaging virus is "far from over", adding that the government is taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in India.

India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 49-lakh mark with 83,809 fresh cases being reported on Tuesday. Total cases of the virus stand at 49,30,236 with 80,776 deaths. Out of these, 1,054 casualties were recorded in 24 hours. 38,59,399 recoveries have been witnessed in the country so far.

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