23 lakh PPE exports in July; cases near 25 Lakh

New Delhi, August 14

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The government’s self-reliance goal amid a raging Covid-19 pandemic today got a push with India touching the 23 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) export mark in July alone.

As the disease burden rose to 24,61,190 cases, the government said it had exported 23 lakh PPEs to five countries —the US, UK, UAE, Senegal and Slovenia — in signals of a resilient and emerging Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said at the start of the pandemic, the world was grappling with a huge shortage of medical equipment, including N95 masks, PPE kits and ventilators, and India was importing most of its requirement.

“The government and stakeholders worked together to turn the pandemic into an opportunity and ramp up local manufacturing capacity to meet domestic requirements for PPEs and also pitch for exports,” the government said.

The case surge in the past 24 hours was 64,553 with 17,51,555 persons having recovered, taking the national recovery rate to 71.17 per cent and the case fatality rate down to 1.95 per cent.

On testing, India today touched a peak by conducting 8,48,728 tests in a day with cumulative samples tested now standing at 2,76,94,416.

Home Minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, tweeted today that he had tested negative for Covid-19. He said he would remain in home isolation for a few more days. — TNS