Lockdown works, home isolation guidelines issued: Health Ministry

As per Union Health Ministry, as many as 1,594 new cases and 51 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours (as at 5 PM, Tuesday).  “India’s total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 29,974 (including 22010 active cases, 7027 cured/discharged/migrated and 937 deaths),” the government said.  

Compared to the 20 countries where maximum COVID-19 cases have been reported, India has got only 1/200 times the number of deaths as the total number of deaths in these 20 countries.  

Lockdown is working

The doubling time of COVID-19 cases in India was about 3-3.25 days before lockdown.  And it is now around 10.2 days. This is mainly because of our focus on containment, physical distancing and lockdown measures, the government views.  

Disinfect a place, reuse it

If a COVID-19 patient is found to be infected at any health facility, the facility can be reused after proper disinfection procedures. Similarly, workplaces too where positive patients were found can be used after proper disinfection is done, the Health Ministry’s latest advisory says.  

Home isolation is recommended

“The Health Ministry recommends home isolation of people who either have very mild COVID-19 symptoms or are in the pre-symptomatic phase. Such patients with requisite self-isolation facility at their residence will now have the option for home isolation,” an official note says.