Amid rising number of Covid-19 cases and fatalities, Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan on Sunday cautioned that Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 as shown by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) second Sero Survey and there is no room for complacency.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that the ICMR expert panel is examining reinfection cases. A total of 88,600 new cases and 1,124 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours in the country.
While interacting with social media users during ‘Sunday Samaad-3’, the Minister said: The findings of the second sero survey are going to be released soon. “But second sero survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour.
“The first sero-survey of May 2020 revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 per cent,” he said.
The Minister also talked about the cases of reinfections being reported from the country saying that the “ICMR is also actively investigating and researching reports of reinfection and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter.”
Dr Harsh Vardhan discouraged the wide usage of investigational therapies such as remdesivir and plasma therapies. “Government has issued regular advisories regarding the rational use of investigational therapies. The private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these investigational therapies: The doctors in the States/UTs are being made aware of the therapies.
The Union Health Minister also dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools and advised on proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair-spa.
India has been recording higher number of recoveries than the new cases for several consecutive days in the recent past. 92,043 new recoveries have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. 76 per cent of the new recovered cases are found in 10 States/UTs, said a senior health official adding that Maharashtra continues to top this list. It has alone contributed more than 23,000 followed by Andhra Pradesh with more than more than 9,000 cases.
Ten States/UTs account for 77 per cent of the new confirmed cases. Maharashtra continues to lead this tally. It has contributed more than 20,000 followed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with more than more than 8,000 and 7,000 cases respectively.
