With a single-day record peak of 83,883 infections, India’s number of COVID-19 cases rose to 38,53,406, while the death toll rose to 67,376 with 1,043 people succumbing to the disease in one day, according to the data of the Ministry of Health of the Union updated at 8 am. .
The government has taken a gradual approach to “Unblock” and to open various economic activities, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference.
So far, the Center has announced four phases of ‘Unblocking’ from June 8 to resume commercial activities.
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When asked why the government is opening up different economic activities when there is an increase in daily positive cases, he said: “There is no question about it. But then these figures have to be considered in the context of the total population of India. They are the second most populous country in the world. ”
“We are conducting, on an average of nine and a half lakhs of tests in one day, which was not at least a month and a half ago. Yesterday, in a span of 24 hours, we conducted more than 11.70 lakhs of tests, and what is interesting to note is that in those 11.70 lakh tests, the positivity rate remained at 7.20 percent, “Bhushan said.
It is not that suddenly everything has opened up, he said and stressed that before the gradual opening of economic activities in the country, the government ensured all the prerequisites, such as adequate testing capacity, clear guidelines of standard clinical treatment protocol, improved hospital infrastructure, adequate beds in the intensive care unit and beds with oxygen installation.
“We have created a testing capacity where 10 lakh or more tests can be done in one day. So the tests, the hospital facilities, the clinical protocols – all of these things have been consolidated and shared with the states and just then the government has opted for a graduated opening of the economy, “said Bhushan.
“At the end of the day, the government firmly believes that while lives are important, livelihoods are just as important,” he said.
The Union Ministry of the Interior on August 29 issued the ‘Unblocking 4’ guidelines according to which metro trains will be able to resume services from September 7 in a staggered manner, while the political, social and religious congregations of up to 100 people will be able to start on September 21. .
However, schools, colleges, educational and training institutions will remain closed to students until September 30, with some relaxation for students in classes 9 to 12.
The Interior Ministry had also said that state governments will not impose any local blockades outside the COVID-19 containment zones without prior consultation with the central government.
He had said that the governments of the states and the territories of the Union can allow up to 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called into schools at the same time for online teaching or tele-counseling and related work.
Students in classes 9 through 12 may be allowed to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on a voluntary basis to receive guidance from their teachers.
While India’s COVID-19 count has passed 38 lakh, recoveries rose to 29,70,492 on Thursday, bringing the recovery rate to more than 77 percent, according to data updated at 8 a.m.
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