Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday briefed Rajya Sabha on the COVID-19 situation in the country and steps taken by the government. The minister said coronavirus-induced lockdown prevented “approximately 14 to 29 lakh cases and 37 to 78 thousand deaths.”

The time period was utilised to create additional health infrastructure, enhance human resources and to produce items such as PPE kits, N95 masks and ventilators in the country.

In his briefing, Vardhan said the country is testing a million samples for coronavirus, every day. This “translates to 720 tests per million population per day, much higher than that stipulated by WHO which 140 tests per million per day,” he said.

“A total of 5,51,89,226 samples were tested as of September 11,” he added.

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He added that COVID-19 fatality and recovery rates in the country stand at 1.67% and 77.65%, respectively. India has been able to limit its cases and deaths per million to 3,320 and 55 respectively, which is one of the lowest in the world, he added.

He briefed the House as India’s COVID-19 tally approached the 5 million mark. The country has reported 4,930,237 cases and 83,809, as on Tuesday.

While concluding his brief, Dr Harsh Vardhan reminded the members that “battle against COVID-19 is far from over.”

“I wish to inform the house that government is taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in India,” he said.