The number of confirmed novel Coronavirus cases in the country has climbed to 3,577 while the death toll rose to 83. Health Ministry data said, the number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,219, as many as 274 people were either cured of the disease and discharged, and one had migrated.
Delhi has the highest number of cases at 503 followed by Maharashtra 490, Tamil Nadu 485 and Kerala 306. Highest number of 24 people have lost lives in Maharashtra. Gujarat has reported 11 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 9 and Telangana and Delhi 7 each. Briefing media yesterday, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said, Government is augmenting supply of PPE and the domestic manufacturing has begun. He said, Government is are procuring it from the world over and many philanthropic organizations too are supporting in this.
Mr Agarwal said, Health Ministry has also asked states to use PPE rationally. He said, Health Ministry has issued advisory to start rapid antibody-based blood test for COVID19. He said, Government will ensure that the farmers do not suffer from any adverse fall out of LockDown, and has granted relaxations for Agriculture sector.
Joint Secretary in Home Ministry, Punya Salila Srivastava said, about 12.5 lakh people are being sheltered in 27,661 relief camps, while 19 thousand 460 food camps are providing food to about 75 lakh people. Raman R. Gangakhedkar, head of epidemiology and communicable diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research said, the coronavirus infection is not airborne but a droplet infection.
He said, had it been an airborne infection, every person in a family of an infected person would have caught the virus because they all would be breathing the air infected by the family member and this would also apply to patients in a hospital.