India / Why are lakhs of COVID-19 cases not considered community spread: Delhi Min

New Delhi: ‘If even lakhs of cases aren’t considered to be community spread, when will it be considered?’ asked Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain, a day after Centre for the first time admitted that India is witnessing community transmission stage of the novel coronavirus.

“I had said it for months. Don’t know what compulsion is he under to not accept it. If even lakhs of cases aren’t considered to be community spread, when will it be considered?”, news agency ANI quoted Jain as saying.

Earlier on Sunday, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had admitted that in different pockets across various states, including West Bengal, community transmission is expected to occur, especially in dense areas. However, this is not happening across the country. It is limited to certain districts. The minister had also assured that no mutation of the virus has been detected as of yet.

Meanwhile, Delhi health minister asserted that the situation in the national capital is slightly better than what it was around one month back.

“5034 beds occupied at hospitals in Delhi, around 70% still available. Situation is slightly better than what it was around 1 month back. Still, I request all to wear a mask and maintain social distancing, so that COVID-19 doesn’t spread again during the festive season”, Jain added. 

COVID-19 in India

India’s cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate has remained below 8 per cent for four days, demonstrating that the rate of spread of infection is being effectively contained, the Union health ministry said today.

The ministry said the country has been reporting a steady decline in active cases.

The active cases of coronavirus infection remained below 8 lakh for the third consecutive day on Monday. There are 7,72,055 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprise 10.23 per cent of the total caseload, according to ministry data updated at 8 am.

The total number of recoveries has surged to 66,63,608, thereby enhancing the difference with respect to active cases, the ministry said.

A total of 66,399 patients recovered and were discharged the previous day, while 55,722 new infections were reported. The national recovery rate has progressed to 88.26 per cent, it said.

According to the statement, 79 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and UTs — Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.