COVID-19 doubling time in India improved to 13.6 days in last 3 days: Harsh Vardhan

doubling time of coronavirus infection in India has improved to 13.6 days in last three days from 11.5 in past 14 days, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday as country registered a record single-day jump of around 5,000 cases.

fatality rate is down to 3.1 percent and recovery rate has improved to 37.5 percent, he said.

Substantiating his point that spre of infection in country has been slow, Vardhan said coronavirus cases in India reached 80,000 mark in 106 days while developed nations such as UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and US took 44-66 days to reach that mark.

Eight states and Union Territories --  Arunachal Presh, Chandigarh, Lakh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Dra and Nagar Haveli --have t reported any case of COVID-19 in last 24 hrs.

Sikkim, Nagaland, Daman and Diu, and Lakshweep have t reported any case till w, Vardhan said in a statement.  

With India entering fourth phase of nationwide lockdown from Monday, Vardhan said, "Our policy, perseverance coupled with aggressive and early measures through a strong leership have shown encouraging results. While doubling time in past 14 days was 11.5, it has improved to 13.6 in last three days."

Also as of Saturday, 3.1 percent of active COVID-19 patients are in ICU, 0.45 percent are on ventilators and 2.7 percent on oxygen support, minister said.

National Disaster Manment Authority (NDMA) anunced on Sunday that ongoing countrywide lockdown has been extended till May 31. In an order, it said that lockdown measures need to be implemented for a furr period of 14 days in country to contain spre of COVID-19.

death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning, registering an increase of 120 fatalities and a record jump of 4,987 new cases in 24 hours since Saturday 8 am, according to Union Health Ministry.

number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 53,946, while 34,109 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said.

"Thus, around 37.51 percent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said.

In a tweet, Vardhan said, "Because of India's well-turned strategy in fight against COVID-19, nation touched 80,000-cases mark in 106 days as against 44-66 days taken by countries such as UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and US. I truly believe that under PM Narendra Modi's leership, we will win this war against pandemic."

Elaborating on health infrastructure preparedness, Vardhan said 916 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals with 1,80,473 beds -- 1,61,169 isolation and 19,304 ICU -- and 2,044 dedicated health centres with 1,28,304 beds (1,17,775 isolation beds and 10,529 ICU beds) along with 9,536 quarantine centres and 6,309 care centres with 5,64,632 beds are w available in country.

Union health minister said that while India sees a gets accustomed to a "new rmal", following simple hygiene measures like washing hands with soap frequently or using alcohol-based sanitizers, t spitting in public, sanitizing one's workplace, using face covers in public places are a must.

"Physical distancing is most potent social vaccine available to us and hence it is visable to ensure 'Do Gaz ki Doori' (two-years distance) while interacting with ors and to limit social garings by opting virtual garings," he said while people vising to travel only when it is absolutely necessary and t to visit crowded places to limit exposure to virus.

Due precautions, safe handling of food can help prevent spre of COVID-19, minister said.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has vised some simple steps like washing raw fruits and vegetables in potable water, having "fully cooked" meat, avoiding sharing of utensils and cleaning of surfaces such as tables with anti-bacterial bleach wipes that can be followed to ensure food safety.

Vardhan expressed his gratitude to services being rendered by frontline health workers such as doctors, nurses, ANMs, Anganwi workers as well as pathologists, lab technicians, scientists and ors since beginning of pandemic, according to statement said.

y have been working under tremendously high-risk conditions in ir line of duty, to save ir fellow countrymen, Vardhan said and emphasized that nation needs to shun stigmatising m and applaud ir contribution.

"By shunning stigma attached with COVID-19, we encour people to report symptoms on time which will help in early detection and manment of cases thus improving recovery rate in country," health minister said.

He also emphasised on importance of downloing Aarogya Setu app which helps in self-assessment and provides surveillance of COVID-19 positive cases.

ditionally, Vardhan warned against falling prey to misinformation, rumours and myths or unfounded claims regarding coronavirus infection.

Highlighting that daily testing capacity has increased to 1,00,000 tests through 373 government and 152 private laboratories, he said, "Cumulatively, 22,79,324 COVID-19 tests have been done so far of which 90,094 samples were tested on Saturday."

He also said Centre has provided 90.22 lakh N-95 masks and 53.98 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to states, UTs and central institutions.