In a press briefing on Thursday, 30 July, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare discussed India’s COVID-19 situation with a presentation on the progress made in terms of cases, deaths and recoveries, and also where it stands in terms of a vaccine.
On the prospect of herd immunity, Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Health said, “Herd immunity in a country the size of India cannot be a strategic choice or an option. It can only be an outcome, and that too at a very high cost. Many people will have to get sick and hospitalised, overwhelming the health infrastructure and leading to more loss of life.”
“Herd immunity can only be achieved through immunization, and that too, in the future. This is why adopting COVID appropriate behavior and following necessary precautions is necessary.”Rajesh Bhushan
The government also continues to deny community transmission in the country, saying only 50 of 739 districts contribute 80 percent of the total cases. It said, “India has cluster of cases and pockets of localised transmission. With 138 crore population, only 50 out of 740 districts contribute to 80% cases. In 80% of new cases, source of infection and close contacts can be traced within 72 hours. How's it community transmission?”
Active Cases, Recoveries & Tests
The absolute number of COVID-19 active cases and recoveries as on 30 July are 5,28,242 and 10,20,582 respectively. This shows that recoveries are 1.9 times the number of active cases. It is important to note, however, that the recovery rate is expected to rise as all those who do not succumb to the disease will eventually recover.
Bhushan lauded the selfless work, dedication and commitment to duty shown by doctors, nurses and frontline medicare workers in reducing the deaths and the rising recoveries. India’s case fatality rate at 2.21% continues to be the lowest among the world, he said.
It was also added that over 1,81,90,000 tests have been conducted in the country including RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests. There has been a week on week increase in average tests per day. India is conducting 324 test per 10 lakhs population per day.
Importantly, the exact figure of rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests was not shared. RT-PCR is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19. As per the ICMR guidelines, each rapid antigen negative sample has to undergo an RT-PCR test for confirmation.
24 States and Union Territories have lesser fatality rate than that of the country. 16 states of the country have a recovery rate that is more than the national average. Of these, Delhi has a recovery rate of 88%, Ladakh 80%, Haryana 78%, Assam 76%, Telangana 74%, Tamil Nadu & Gujarat 73%, Rajasthan 70%, MP 69% and Goa 68%.
On India & COVID-19 Vaccines
The country has not signed any agreement with any vaccine manufacturing company yet. India has two indigenously developed vaccine candidates (Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and another by Zydus Cadila) which are in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. The trial of the first vaccine involves 1150 subjects at eight sites and the second on 1000 subjects at five sites.
On whether there has been a discussion on prioritising how a vaccine will be distributed and administered if and when it becomes available, Bhushan said, “There are multiple stakeholders within and outside government and Ministry of Health has actively started engaging with such stakeholders.”
“COVID-19 vaccine, whenever it comes will have to be administered on a much larger scale compared to the existing vaccines. This is something on which there is near unanimity.”Rajesh Bhushan
He also informed that India is a member of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which is co-leading the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, along with the WHO and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other public health and philanthropy organisations. This is to pool in the requirement of vaccines in the member countries and the capacities of the different manufacturers, and to eventually match the two pools. COVAX is the vaccine arm of the group that will access 2 billion doses of the vaccines.
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