Congress MP Anand Sharma on Wednesday asked the government to explain how lockdown prevented COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, he said, “Yesterday, the health minister said that this decision (lockdown) prevented approximately 14 to 29 lakh COVID-19 cases & 37,000-78,000 deaths. The House must be informed what is the scientific basis on which we’ve reached this conclusion.”

Sharma has demanded the Centre’s reply on the outcome of the nationwide lockdown, which was imposed in March to contain the spread of coronavirus. 

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

He said, 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.

India’s coronavirus tally on Wednesday crossed the 5 million mark. It is now the second worst-affected country to be hit by coronavirus after the US.