Coronavirus: India confirms 5,734 confirmed cases and 166 deaths
A total of 5,734 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID 19) have been reported in the country so far, the Health Ministry stated on Thursday. 549 new cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours. The death toll in India stands at 166 out of which 17 deaths have been reported since Wednesday.
Union Health Ministry during a routine briefing said that "Under 'Adopt a Family' campaign in Karnal (Haryana), 13000 needy families are being given the help of Rs 64 Lakhs." The Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal stated that "Supplies of PPEs, masks, and ventilators have now started. 20 domestic manufacturers in India have been developed for PPEs, orders for 1.7 Crore PPEs have been placed and the supplies have started. 49,000 ventilators have been ordered."
He added that "The railways have deployed more than 2,500 doctors and 35,000 paramedics staff. Their chain of 586 health units, 45 sub-divisional hospitals, 56 divisional hospitals, 8 production unit hospitals, and 16 zonal hospitals are dedicating their significant facilities to fight coronavirus."
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) stated that "1,30,000 samples have been tested so far. Out of these 5,734 samples tested positive. The positivity rate ranges between 3-5% in the last 1-1.5 months. It has not increased substantially. Yesterday, we tested 13,143 samples."
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In an order to prepare 80,000 isolation beds, Indian railways are converting 5,000 coaches into isolation units, of which 3,250 have been converted, Lav Aggarwal said.
-PTC News
