The nationwide tally of confirmed COVID19 cases crossed 5,000 on Tuesday amid hectic discussions for a possible extension of the 21-day lockdown beyond April 14 as several states announced plans to ramp up their testing infrastructure and put in place strong ‘cluster containment’ plans in areas identified as hotspots of the outbreak.
There were also indications about possible relaxations froma complete lockdown for some sectors, including agriculture and unorganisedlabour sector, at
least in some states, while there were also talks about evenstronger area-specific restrictions in some places.
A PTI tally of figures reported by various states as onTuesday showed more than 5,000 testing positive across the country and at least145 deaths. The Union Health Ministry’s evening update, however, showed 4,789confirmed cases and 124 deaths.
More than 400 have so far been cured and discharged, whilenearly 1.1 lakh tests have been conducted so far in the country, as perofficial announcements.
Officials said that the lockdown and social distancingmeasures have helped contain the pandemic in a big way in India. Citing an ICMRstudy, the Health Ministry said just one COVID19 patient can infect as many as406 people in 30 days in the absence of preventive measures such as socialdistancing and the lockdown.
With the preventive measures, the possibility of theinfection can be reduced to an average of just two-and-a-half persons perpatient in the same period, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said inthe central government’s daily briefing on COVID19.
He said social distancing works like a “socialvaccine” in management of COVID19, but refrained from commenting onwhether the ongoing nationwide lockdown would be extended or lifted after April14.
“Whenever a decision is taken, it will be informed.Till a decision is officially communicated, please refrain fromspeculation,” he said.
Government sources, however, said many state governments andexperts are requesting the Centre to extend the lockdown and the centralgovernment is thinking in that direction.
There has been a nationwide lockdown since March 25, thoughsome states had initiated such measures a few days earlier, to check thepandemic that has claimed more than 75,000 lives worldwide since its emergencein China last December. Over 13 lakh people have tested positive for the virusacross the world so far.
Some states, however, indicated that the lockdown conditionscould be relaxed for some segments.
A Group of Ministers on COVID19 on Tuesday recommendedextension of closure of all educational institutions and restricting allreligious activities having public participation till May 15 irrespective ofwhether the government extends the 21-day lockdown or not, official sourcessaid.