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New Delhi : novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll climbed to 420 in India including 187 in Maharashtra, 53 in MP, 33 in Gujarat, and 32 in Delhi, at 5 pm on April 16, 2020, with 28 new deaths taking place since the last update issued by Union Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Ministry on April 15, 2020, evening.
The number of Coronavirus confirmed cases has increased to 12,380 in the country including 2,916 in Maharashtra and 1,578 in Delhi while 1,514 patients have been cured/discharged. The number of COVID-19 active cases has reached 10,824 in the country.
The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of COVID-19 cases in India is 3.3% while the percentage of people recovered, so far, is 12.02%, according to a PIB release. As of now, 325 districts in the country have not reported any case. Mahe, Puducherry, has not reported any fresh positive case for the last 28 days.
Union H & FW Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on April 15 held a video conference with health functionaries and senior officials as well as field officers of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the containment measures for COVID-19 in India. He was informed that WHO officers working at district level are doing technical coordination for the development of Micro Plans for clusters and outbreak containment with States/UT officials and also helping them in devising a strategy for continued surveillance of districts. WHO’s national polio surveillance network team will support Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to further strengthen the ongoing surveillance and response based on transmission scenarios & testing of cases.
Dr Vardhan also held an interaction with Indian industry leaders organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) where he thanked them for contributing to the PM-CARES fund. He assured them that the Government is aware of the difficulties facing them and allayed their concerns with respect to measures being undertaken for revival of the economy. He also encouraged them to make best use of the Make in India opportunities in healthcare in the wake of COVID-19 so that the country comes out more resilient and self-reliant in providing critical health care equipment.
H & FW Ministry has issued a public advisory for safe drinking water practices during the lockdown. The public health departments has been advised to augment water supplies with special focus on relief camps and for vulnerable sections of the society. Appropriate use of chlorine tablets, bleaching powder and hypochlorite solution is also advised.
It has also issued a detailed guideline to all the States / UTs on enabling delivery of essential health care services to meet the unprecedented demand on the current healthcare system during the outbreak. These services include maternal child health, prevention and management of communicable health diseases, treatment of chronic diseases to avoid complications and addressing emergencies.
It has also been suggested that the services such as immunisation and ante-natal care should be reorganised during the period of lockdown or restrictions and days can be fixed for such services duly adhering to physical distancing and other prevention of infection protocol. Pregnant women, children with SAM (Severe and Acute Malnourishment), TB, leprosy, HIV, viral hepatitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), dialysis should be followed through the primary health care team at Sub Health Centre and Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs).