Record 869k coronavirus tests conducted in a day
Over 70% of those infected by the disease have recovered so far. The total tests conducted in the previous 24 hours stood at 868,679 on Saturday, taking the cumulative tests to more than 28.5 million, the ministry said.
As many as 57,381 people recovered from Covid-19 on Saturday across the country and marked the highest number of recoveries so far, which crossed the 1.8 million mark, with India achieving another peak in the total tests conducted in 24 hours, according to Union health ministry data.
Over 70% of those infected by the disease have recovered so far. The total tests conducted in the previous 24 hours stood at 868,679 on Saturday, taking the cumulative tests to more than 28.5 million, the ministry said.
The recoveries in 12 states are higher than the national average, with Delhi leading the way. The data shows that almost 90% of the people in Delhi have recovered from the infection, followed by Haryana (84%), and Tamil Nadu (82%).
Officials credited the Delhi model for the decline in the number of new infections and deaths. The model involved ramping up testing and the number of beds for Covid-19 treatment, isolation of those with no symptoms or mild symptoms at home, providing pulse oximeters and oxygen concentrators, plasma therapy, and surveys and screening. Delhi was the first to start a convalescent plasma bank. The state has decided to conduct serological surveillance every month to check the prevalence of antibody levels in the population.
Officials said India is focusing on a test, track, treat strategy to prevent the spread of the infection.
Dr Puneet Mishra, a community medicine professor at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said now the testing strategy needs to evolve in places such as Delhi and Mumbai. “In these areas, we have to focus on reducing mortality and for that hospitals and health centres have to keep an eye on those who are symptomatic, especially among the high-risk group. Ensuring that these people reach hospitals on time is important.”
Officials said the focus is now on improved and effective treatment in hospitals, supervised home isolation, use of non-invasive oxygen support, improved services of ambulances for ferrying patients for prompt and timely treatment. The government is also working on the upgrade of clinical management skills of doctors. Doctors from AIIMS are providing active technical guidance through teleconsultation.
The ministry said this has also resulted in a declining case fatality rate, which is well below the global average. The national case fatality rate, or the proportion of people who die among those diagnosed with the infection, is 1.94%.
Dr Sanjay K Rai, a community medicine professor at AIIMS, said they do not know yet what the reasons are for fewer deaths in India. “However, there are some educated guesses that scientists have made. One, India has a relatively young population – just 8 or 9% of the population is above the age of 60 as compared to about 25% in the European countries. Old age puts people at higher risk of severe disease and mortality. Two, Indians get common cold from other coronaviruses that might be providing cross-immunity against Sars-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19,” said Rai. “Third, now there is evidence emerging that BCG vaccination given to prevent tuberculosis is protective against Covid-19. We have universal BCG vaccination, the European countries do not.”
He said the mortality rate is unlikely to increase as the infection spreads to smaller cities. “From the sero-surveillance in Delhi and Mumbai, we know that in 90% cases there are no symptoms or very mild symptoms and no medical care is needed. For most of the others, it is just oxygen support that seems to be helping; there is no evidence to suggest that the experimental drugs reduce mortality.”
Rai said this is why they have suggested that only availability of oxygen needs to be ensured in primary and secondary level healthcare facilities. “Even if the government does provide ventilators, who will operate them? In the absence of trained professionals, it will do more harm than good.”
Chandrakant Lahariya, a public health specialist, said a vaccine will help in preventing deaths in high-risk individuals as the infection is unlikely to just disappear. “Broadly, every pandemic infects many people initially because the entire population is susceptible and as people start getting immunity, the infection disappears in about 18 months to two years. However, unlike other pandemics, Covid-19 is highly infectious and the spread is truly global... if re-infection starts happening, then we will need to immunise everyone, especially the healthcare workers constantly at risk.”