From Our Bureau
2nd SEPTEMBER 2020
India witnessed a big surge with 78,357 fresh COVID-19 positive cases reported on Wednesday, taking the country’s cumulative tally to 37,69,523. The death toll rose to 66,333, with 1,045 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours. India has moved to third place in total number of fatalities as also positive cases among countries across the world. It ranks after the United States and Brazil, which occupy the top two slots.
The total recoveries in India have crossed 29 lakh (29,01,908) as of today. Last 10 lakh recoveries have been recorded in only 17 days in comparison to preceding 10 lakh recoveries which were recorded in 22 days.
A significant feature of India’s management of COVID-19 cases is the growing rate of recovered patients. As India continues to sustain its progressively increasing rate of recoveries, a higher number of patients are recovering and being discharged from hospitals and home isolation.
Since May 2020, there has been a 58 times hike in the number of recovered patients.
12 States/UTs have reported a Recovery Rate more than the National Average. Two States, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, alone account for around 30 percent of the total recoveries.
The number of patients recovering is on a steady rise over the past several months. As the daily recoveries increase, India registers more than 60,000 recoveries each day, 6th day in a row. With the recovery of 62,026 cases in the last 24 hours, India’s Recovery Rate amongst the COVID-19 patients has further improved to 76.98 percent. This figure is demonstrating a continuous progress.
The number of recovered cases has overtaken the active cases by more than 21 lakhs. There has been more than 4 times jump in the average weekly recoveries from the first week of July to last week of August. As on date, India has 8,01,282 active cases, accounting for 21.26 percent of total COVID cases, under active medical supervision.
India continues to report one of the lowest COVID Case Fatality Rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries. While the global CFR stands at 3.3 percent as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.76 percent.
The deaths per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 110 deaths /million population, India is reporting 48 deaths/ million population. The comparative figure for Brazil and the UK is 12 and 13 times higher respectively.
With 10,12,367 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, India has further strengthened the national diagnostic capacity of testing more than 10 lakh samples daily. The cumulative tests have crossed 4,43,37,201.
As part of the COVID management and response policy, there has been a sharp focus of the Central Government on not only containing the COVID related fatality, but to reduce deaths and to save lives by providing quality clinical care to the critical and severe patients of COVID.
Collaborative efforts of the Central Government and State/ Union Territory governments have resulted in strengthening of the health facilities across the country. 1,578 Dedicated COVID Hospitals are providing quality medical care. The Central Government has also issued the Standard of Care guidelines incorporated in the Clinical Treatment Protocol.
A unique initiative to build the capacities of the ICU doctors in clinical management of critical patients towards reducing the fatality, e-ICU has been started by AIIMS, New Delhi. Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, tele/video -consultation sessions are held by knowledge and domain experts for the doctors manning ICUs in the State hospitals. These sessions started from 8th July 2020. Till date, 17 tele-sessions have been held, and 204 institutions have participated in them. (eom)
