Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today said that India has one of the lowest global COVID-19 fatality rates. Chairing the 20th Meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers, GoM on COVID-19 in New Delhi, he said, the country’s case fatality rate is at its lowest 1.81%.

He said, "the recovery rate of COVID cases in the country has reached to 76.47%. He further added, only 0.29% of cases are on ventilators, 1.93% on ICU and only 2.88% of cases are on oxygen." 

In the last 24 hours, 65,050 COVID patients have recovered and were discharged from the hospitals. The Health Ministry said, the total number of recoveries has reached over 26,48,998. It said, the constantly increasing recoveries have ensured that the actual caseload of the country has reduced and currently comprises only 21.72% of the total positive cases. It said, effective implementation of Centre's strategic and graded 'Test,Track and Treat' approach has led to higher recoveries and lower fatality. 

The total number of positive cases of COVID-19 infection in the country is 34,63,972. Presently, the total number of active corona cases in the country is 7,52,424. In the last 24 hours, 1021 deaths have also been reported taking the toll to 62.550.

The Health Minister informed the GOM (Group of Ministers) that more than 338 lakhs of N-95 masks, nearly 135 lakh of PPEs and about 27 thousand ventilators have been provided by the centre to the States and Union Territories.

He instructed officiale has to develop Standard Operating Procedures for the Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly Sessions comprising COVID protocols and preventive measures. The GOM also expressed concern about the forthcoming festival seasons and advised everyone to adopt safe and COVID appropriate behaviour.

The Chairperson of the Empowered Group-I on Medical Emergency Management Plan Dr Vinod K Paul apprised the GoM of the process of COVID vaccine development in India and around the world. He stated that 29 candidates, including two Indian ones, are in Clinical Trials. Out of which six are in Phase-3. In India, Bharat Biotech’s vaccine candidate based on inactivated virus procured by ICMR is in Phase-2 trial along with Zydus Cadila’s candidate which is based on viral DNA.

The Oxford vaccine candidate developed by Serum Institute of India is already in Phase-3 trial in Maharashtra and some other states. Dr. Paul also informed the GoM of the progress made by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19.