Only 10 states are currently contributing to 75 percent of active COVID-19 cases in India: Minister

The detailed breakdown of community transmission of COVID-19 across the country was in response to a query raised during a recent Lok Sabha session that sought the details of the first case of community transmission of COVID-19 observed and the total number of such cases in the relevant States/UTs at that time, State/UT-wise and action taken by the Government to stop community transmission.

Responding to the question, Choubey stated that the epidemic curve of any pandemic goes through an ascending, peaking, and descending phase. The current phase of the pandemic in India is on multiple trajectories across the urban and semi-urban areas of the country. India has reported large outbreaks in certain districts indicating the spread of infection in those districts.

"Only 10 States are currently contributing to 75% of active cases in the country, which suggests that COVID is still limited in spread (details at Annexure I). India has among the lowest cases and deaths per million population among similarly affected countries. This is further corroborated by the fact that the nationwide seroprevalence for COVID-19 conducted in May 2020 was found to be less than 1%," the Minister added.

Top 10 states/UTs with most active cases (as on 20th September 2020)

While elaborating on further queries regarding the details of the protocol recommended by the Government to prevent the further community transmission of COVID-19, and the date of identification of the first instance of an active case of COVID-19 which could not be traced to a known infected contact and with no travel history, the Minister said that the government of India has adopted a containment strategy for containing the spread of COVID-19 by suppressing/breaking the cycle of transmission in the country. The containment plans envisage a strategy of breaking the chain of transmission by (i) defining containment and buffer zones, (ii) applying strict perimeter control, (iii) intensive active house to house search for cases and contacts, (iv) isolation and testing of suspect cases and high-risk contacts, (v) quarantine of high-risk contacts, (vi) intensive risk communication to raise community awareness on simple preventive measures and need for prompt treatment-seeking and (vii) strengthening of passive Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)/ Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance in containment and buffer zones.

State/UT wise details of total COVID-19 cases and tests conducted (as reported on 20th September, 2020) read;

Dealing with the question, whether the government has any plan to reduce the charge/fee of RT-PCR or TrueNat or CBNAAT or RAT test in the country, Choubey stated that in all public health institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare COVID-19 tests such as RT-PCR, Truenat, CBNAAT, and Rapid Antigen test are done free of cost. ICMR has also provided COVID-19 testing reagents to all the States and UTs free of cost. As health is a State subject, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also written to all States/UTs to negotiate with private laboratories and fix up mutually agreeable prices for samples being sent by the government and also for private individuals desirous of testing by these laboratories.

To access the official statement click on the link below-

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-134989.pdf

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