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New Delhi : Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a meeting on May 7, 2020, with Health Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, and senior officials from both Centre and the States to review the COVID-19 situation, actions being taken and preparedness for management of COVID-19.
He stated that as on May 7, 2020, a total of 52,952 Coronavirus confirmed cases have been reported from the country in which 15,266 persons have been cured and 1,783 patients had died due to the disease. In the last 24 hours, 3,561 new confirmed cases have been added while 1,084 patients were found cured. He added that in comparison to other countries, India is in a better condition as the fatality rate is 3.3% and recovery rate is 28.83%.
Dr Vardhan also added that there are 4.8% patients in ICU, 1.1% on ventilators, and 3.3% on oxygen support of the active cases. The testing capacity has increased in the country and it is 95,000 tests per day. Cumulatively, 13,57,442 tests have been done so far for COVID-19.
As on date, there are 180 districts with no new cases in less than 7 days, 180 districts with no new cases in 7-13 days, 164 districts which have not had any new case in 14-20 days and 136 districts with no new cases since the last 21-28 days.
In view of the surge in number of migrant labour expected to reach the States in the days to come, Dr Vardhan exhorted the States that robust strategy and mechanism need to be drawn up for their testing, quarantine, and treatment of the positive cases. An effective strategy also needs to be put in place for their testing, institutional quarantine and treatment, if needed, according to a PIB release.
States were also informed that helpline number 104 in addition to 1075 can be used for Grievance Redressal for non-COVID essential services, and for informing regarding availability of these services etc. Adequate measures for prevention of vector diseases also needs to be taken, they were advised.
Ministry of Railways has converted its 5,231 coaches as Covid Care Centres. The Coaches can be used for very mild cases that can be clinically assigned to the Covid Care centres as per guidelines issued by MoHFW. These coaches can be used in areas where State has exhausted the facilities and needs to augment capacities for isolation of both suspect and confirmed Covid cases. Indian Railways has kept 158 stations ready with watering and charging facility and 58 stations with watering facility for these COVID Care centres.