14-29 lakh COVID-19 cases, 37-78k deaths prevented by lockdown: govt

government prevented 14-29 lakh coronavirus cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths due to disease by imposing nationwide lockdown that was anunced on March 24, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said World Health Organisation (WHO) has observed, with regard to lockdown measures taken by government, that India's response to COVID-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active and gred with high–level political commitment and a "whole government" approach to respond to pandemic.

Rai said by imposing countrywide lockdown, India successfully blunted aggressive spre of COVID-19.

"It has been estimated that decision of lockdown, by slowing down progress of pandemic in India, has prevented 14-29 lakh cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths," he said in reply to a written question.

minister said period of lockdown helped nation to create much required ditional health infrastructure. During this time, dedicated isolation beds recorded a 22 times increase and dedicated ICU beds expanded by 14 times in comparison to numbers in March 2020.

Similarly, he said, laboratory capacity for testing COVID-19 was increased by nearly 10 times during lockdown.

While re was indigeus manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) with requisite standards at time when lockdown was imposed, country is w self-sufficient and in a position to export same, he said.

Rai said similarly, very limited indigeus manufacturing capacity was available for masks, ventilators, etc. at time of lockdown, which was also enhanced to attain self-reliance in this regard.

During this period, requirement of various cres of personnel and volunteers across sectors and departments for COVID-related works and maintenance of or essential medical services were worked out and y were trained through resources me available on website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and iGOT, an online platform (https://igot.gov.in/igot/), he said.