The recovery rate of COVID positive cases continues to increase and is currently at 49.47 per cent. A total of 1,47,194 individuals have been cured. While 1,41,842 individuals are under active medical supervision. In the last 24 hours, over six thousand individuals have recovered from COVID-19. The doubling rate continues to improve and has increased from 3.4 days at the beginning of lockdown to 17.4 days currently.

Cabinet Secretary today held a video conference with Chief Secretaries, Secretary Health and Secretary Urban Development of all the states. Union Health Ministry said, States were advised to focus on containment, testing and tracing, health infrastructure up-gradation, case clinical management and community engagement for effective management of COVID-19.

States were also asked to also pay special attention to the emerging epicentres and undertake stringent containment measures to check the spread of virus.

States were advised that active house-to-house surveillance through Special Teams in containment zones is critical for early identification of cases. It was emphasized that going forward preventive measures are extremely important especially for a vulnerable population, elderly and co-morbid patients. The Ministry said, States were requested to undertake extensive community outreach to encourage social distancing and promotion of Covid appropriate behaviour in the community at all times.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has constituted an Expert Advisory Committee to advise Delhi Disaster Management Authority, DDMA on various aspects of COVID-19 management in Delhi. The committee will give advice on the challenges being faced in Delhi and suggest measures to ramp up medical infrastructure.

It will also advice DDMA on the integration of measures being taken by the various agencies for the effective mitigation of COVID-19. Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director of AIIMS, Delhi Dr. Randeep Guleria and Director, NCDC Dr. Sujit Kumar Singh are part of the committee.

In another development, Maharashtra Government today refuted rumours that it plans to re-impose lockdown across the state. In a tweet, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said no such decision has been made. Asking people not to believe in rumours, Mr. Thackeray urged people to remain indoors as much as possible.

AIR correspondent reports, in a statement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said media outlets must refrain from broadcasting unverified news and avoid creating confusion in the minds of people. Mr. Thackeray said the government is easing lockdown in phases to restart the economy.

He added that lifting of restrictions, however, does not mean unnecessary crowding and violating discipline of physical distancing and hygiene. As coronavirus cases stand almost in breach of one lakh mark in Maharashtra, the state government has asked citizens to strictly follow all the guidelines being issued regularly.