Twenty-five districts across 15 states which had detected COVID-19 infections earlier have contained the spread and reported no new cases in 14 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
The ministry asserted that the government has enough stocksto conduct tests for up to six weeks and over two lakh samples have been testedso far.
Addressing a press briefing here, Health Ministry JointSecretary Lav Agarwal said 796 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths have beenreported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 9,152 anddeaths to 308.
“Twenty-five districts across 15 states which hadreported cases earlier have contained the virus and have not detected new onesin 14 days. This is a positive development,” he said.
Agarwal also said that the Core Strategy Group on COVID-19was working on rapid and economical diagnostics as well as new drugs.
“The group has been formed, based on a detailed reviewof COVID-19 research, undertaken by Union Health Minister Harshvardhan alongwith CSIR and its 38 labs. The group is working on digital and molecularsurveillance, rapid and economical diagnostics, new drugs, repurposing of drugsand associated production processes,” he said.
According to ICMR officials, 2,06,212 tests for COVID-19have been conducted so far.
“Of these 14,855 tests took place at 156 governmentlabs and 1,913 tests happened at 69 private labs on Sunday. There is no need toworry. We have enough stocks to conduct tests for six weeks,” an ICMRofficial said at the briefing.
The Union Health Ministry informed that 78,000 self-helpgroup members of 27 states have produced 1.96 crore masks under the State RuralLivelihood Missions.
“Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna package,over 30,000 poor people have been provided financial support of Rs 28,256 croreduring the lockdown up to April 10. This includes support of Rs 19.86 crore toJan Dhan Yojna women account holders who were transferred Rs 9,930 crores.
“Under the PM Kisan Yojna, 6.93 crore farmers have beenprovided support of Rs 13,855 crore. Under social assistance programmes 2.82crore widows, senior citizens and disabled have been provided support of Rs1,405 crore,” Agarwal said.