India is far from achieving herd immunity to covid-19, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday while interacting with people on social media during the third episode of Sunday Samvaad.
It should be noted that India has recorded more than 60 lakh of covid-19 cases, while the death toll has exceeded 95,000.
“The indications from the second sero survey to be released soon are that we are far from having achieved some kind of herd immunity, which requires that we all follow the appropriate covid-19 behavior,” said Harsh Vardhan. The first serum survey in May 2020 revealed that the national prevalence of the new coronavirus infection was only 0.73%.
On the emerging evidence that the disease affects not only the lungs but also other organ systems, especially cardiovascular and kidney, the Health Minister said that the government has already established expert committees to investigate these facets of COVID-19.
“The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is also looking into this issue. The ICMR is also actively investigating and investigating reports of reinfection, and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this time, the government is fully aware of the importance of the matter, “said the Minister of Health.
Regarding the widespread use of investigational therapies like Remdesivir and Plasma Therapies, Harsh Vardhan said the government has issued regular notices about their rational use. He reiterated the need to wear masks even in places of worship.
Private hospitals have also been discouraged from the routine use of these investigational therapies. Physicians in the States / UT are becoming aware of this through webinars and during the AIIMS teleconsultation session, New Delhi, he said.
For covid-19 testing fees, the union health minister said states / UTs have been recommended to lower prices for covid-19 diagnostic tests.
“In the early days of the pandemic, as kits were imported, the price tended to be high. But now, the supplies of test kits have also stabilized and the national production of these kits has also started, “he said, adding that the Ministry of Health has written to the states and territories of the Union to involve private laboratories at higher rates. mutually acceptable casualties. ” I have personally spoken to various state health ministers regarding the reduction of test prices in their respective states, “said Harsh Vardhan.
The number of covid-19 cases continues to rise in India. According to the Union’s health ministry, a total of 88,600 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. Approximately 10 states / territories of the Union (UT) account for 77% of new confirmed cases.
With more than 20,000 cases reported during the last 24 hours, Maharashtra leads the count, followed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with more than 8,000 and 7,000 cases respectively.
“There have been 1,124 deaths in the last 24 hours. 10 states / UT represent 84% of deaths in the last 24 hours due to covid-19. Of the new deaths, Maharashtra reported more than 38% of the deaths with 430 deaths followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with 86 and 85 deaths, respectively, “the government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 92,043 new recoveries have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country, the highest in Maharashtra.
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