New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Amid the alarming spike in the number of coronavirus cases in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said that the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country more or less linear not exponential while adding that it has been able to cut transmission, minimise spread and increase doubling rate.

It further said that the country has far less number of positive cases per 5 lakh tests done compared to Italy, UK, US and Spain.

"On March 23 we've done 14,915 tests across the country and on April 22 we have done more than five lakh tests. If a rough calculation is done it is about 33 times in 30 days. This is not enough and we need to ramp testing in this country," said Environment Secretary and Chairman CK Mishra, as quoted by news agency ANI.

"Right at the bottom, the yellow line is India's story. We have deliberately taken 400th case on 23rd March (as benchmark). It shows what was the position, when each of these countries had 400th case and how they have moved beyond," he added.

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The government also said that no new COVID-19 cases were reported in 12 districts in the last 28 days. It said that in the last 24 hours 1,409 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported which has taken the total number of confirmed cases in India to 21,393.

"As on today, we have 12 districts that did not have a fresh case in the last 28 days or more. There are now 78 districts (23 States/UT) that has not reported any fresh cases during the last 14 Days," Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said.

The Health Ministry official also said that out of total number of coronavirus cases, 16,454 are active cases and 4,257 have recovered so far, adding that the recovery rate in India is 19.89 per cent.  

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Speaking about its strategic goal, the government said that first of its strategic aim is to ensure that people don't have to visit hospitals for coronavirus treatment as it can be achieved through social distancing and lockdown.

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The other aim is to create enough infrastructure and health facility for every person who has to visit hospital for COVID care, the government said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that it has clarified to states that in-house care-givers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas are exempted from coronavirus lockdown restrictions.


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