3 ,900 New Cases, 195 Deaths in Last 24 Hours, but no Community Transmission, Says Govt

New Delhi: Even as India recorded 3,900 new COVID-19 cases and 195 deaths in the last 24 hours, the biggest spike so far, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan ruled out any community transmission in the country.

On Tuesday, some serving and retired military personnel were among 24 coronavirus positive cases admitted in Delhi’s Army Hospital, according to a report by NDTV.  All the positive cases are from the cancer department, the report said.

The Indian Railways, meanwhile, said that 21 more Shramik Special trains would be run on Tuesday, adding that as of now, 67 such trains with 67,000 stranded migrants have been run and 21 more such trains were expected to run on Tuesday

Earlier, speaking with PTI,  Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India had been able to so far stave off community transmission of COVID-19, expressing the hope that “behavioural changes" brought about by the infection could become the “new normal” for a healthy society.

Underlining the importance of the lockdown, which has been extended till May 17, the minister said health should be on the radar just as much as the economy.  “The government has to do a balancing act,” he added.

 On Tuesday, the number of COVID-19 cases shot up to 46,433 from the 42,836 the day before, a sharp rise of 3,597 cases, according to Union Health Ministry,

 "By now we know that fighting coronavirus is no rocket science. If behavioural changes such as hand, environmental and respiratory hygiene, which are being practiced more rigorously during this period, get imbibed in society it will become the new normal," Vardhan said.

The Minister said: "We have ramped up the production of COVID-19 protective gears like PPE (personal protection equipment) and N-95 masks. Testing facilities have been scaled up significantly.” 

Efforts are also on to ramp up the production of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), the raw material for pharmaceuticals, Vardhan added. 

Around 27.40% patients have recovered so far in the country, he said.

A Home Ministry official on Tuesday also said stranded Indians who will be brought back by special flights from abroad will have to download 'Aarogya Setu' mobile app and detailed procedures for this entire operation will be issued.

‘Curve Flat, But Steady Rise in Cases Worrisome’

Meanwhile, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said while the  COVID-19 curve had remained relatively flat so far, the continued rise of cases at a steady rate was a cause of concern.

Different modelling experts have predicted that a peak in number of cases of novel coronavirus infection may occur in the next four to six weeks, that is by the end of May or middle of June, Guleria said stressing on the need to be extra vigilant and to make efforts to reduce the number of cases in the hotspots.

He also said, "The country may see a rise in COVID-19 cases during the winter again but that time will only tell.

Guleria’s remarks come amid several state governments giving relaxations and opening up liquor shops in accordance to the guidelines issued by the Home Ministry.

"The curve has remained relatively flat so far because of the implementation of the lockdown and other containment measures and this has given us time to prepare our health infrastructure and ramp up testing facilities in the country,”

 "However, the number of cases continue to rise at a steady rate and this is a cause of concern. Every citizen should understand his responsibility and sincerely follow the principles of lockdown and social distancing, especially if they are in hotspots or containment areas," Guleria, a pulmonologist, said. 

He stressed on focusing on areas having a high case load of COVID-19 so that there is no further transmission of virus there.

Simultaneously, he emphasised on stepping up surveillance in green zones which have reported no cases so far so that they continue to remain infection-free.