No new infection in 25 dists in last 2 wks

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

Even as Covid-19 cases rose to 9,352 and the death toll reached 324, the government today drew people’s attention to 979 recoveries, stressing that not all was lost in the battle against the virus.The rate of discharge in India is 10 per cent and has improved in recent days.

The government cited 25 districts across 15 states that had enforced lockdown, social distancing and containment measures well enough to keep new cases at bay for the past 14 days until Sunday. These include SBS Nagar in Punjab; Rohtak, Panipat and Sirsa in Haryana; Rajouri in J&K and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand.

“These districts have shown that with comprehensive district containment plan and social distancing, new infections can be prevented. We hope these districts sustain their new infection-free status,” Health Ministry spokesperson Lav Agarwal said, even as Sirsa reported a new case today.

Overall, Covid-19 cases increased by 996 since Sunday. There were 51 deaths in the same period, the highest so far in a single day. Asked whether it expected the Covid graph to peak soon, the Health Ministry said, “We want the peak not to come. That is why we are stressing on social distancing, lockdown and active surveillance and contact tracing.”

While the ministry hinted at the importance of lockdown from the public health perspective, Lav Agarwal also mentioned that both “lives and livelihoods need to be protected.” That said, India is gearing up to test more and expects the cases to rise subsequently. The ICMR has so far tested 2,06, 212 samples of which 9,352 are positive. On Sunday,, 14,855 samples were tested in ICMR labs and 1,913 by private labs.

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WILL WORK ON REMDESIVIR DRUG, SAYS ICMR

The ICMR said India was exploring the possibilities of testing the efficacy of anti-viral drug Remdesivir on Covid-19 patients. It would attempt so under the WHO Solidarity Trial. “In some observational studies, Remdesivir has helped improve oxygen levels in patients. This drug has been found effective against ebola,” ICMR chief epidemiologist R Gangakhedkar said.

NOT ENOUGH PROOF TO SHOW SPREAD VIA SHOE SOLE

The ICMR made light of a US study suggesting that the virus could be transmitted through an infected shoe sole. “There is not enough evidence to conclude that Covid-19 can be transmitted through a shoe sole. I will not buy that,” ICMR lead scientist Gangakhedkar said.

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25 of total 736 dists across India ‘new-infection free’

-SBS Nagar in Punjab

-Rohtak, Panipat & Sirsa in Haryana

-Rajouri in Jammu &Kashmir

-Pauri Garhwal in U’khand

-Gondia in Maharashtra

-Rajnandgaon, Durg, Bilaspur in C’garh

-Davangiri,Kodagu,Tumkuru, Udupi in K’taka

-South Goa in Goa

-Wayanad, Kottayam in Kerala

-West Imphal in Manipur

-Aizwal West in Mizoram

-Mahe in Puducherry

-Patna, Nalanda, Munger in Bihar

-Pratapgarh in Rajasthan

-Bhadradari Kothagudem in T’gana.