Lok Sabha Question No. 826 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: COVID Deaths
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Nitesh Ganga Deb, Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 826 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## COVID DEATHS

## 826. SHRI NITESH GANGA DE B: SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJ MAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WE LFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) has claimed large number of lives in the country;
- (b) the number of people affected by COVID - 19 till date in the country;
- (c) whether there is an i mprovement in the number of cured patients and lowered death rates in recent months and if so, their numbers and percentage per million population; (d) the steps taken to improve health care system in the country after COVID - 19 spread;
- (e) whether the Government has chalked out any plan for financial help to the family of a person who diedof COVID - 19; and
- (f) if so, the detail thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): As on 3 rd February 2021, total number of deaths reported due to COVID - 19 in the country stands at 1,54,596. Although high in absolute terms, India has managed to restrict the m to 112 deaths per million population, which is far lower than other similarly affected countries.
- (b): As on 3 rd February 2021, total number of cases reported due to COVID - 19 in the country stands  at  1,07,77,284.  Although  high  in  absolute  terms,  India  has  managed  to  restri morbidity to 7801 cases per million population, which is far lower than other similarly aff countries.

(c): The COVID - 19 recovery rate has improved consistently in the country. The recovery rat end of May 2020 stood at 48.8%, which rose to 83.3% by end of September , 2020 and currently stands at 96.98%. Similarly, the COVID - 19  case fatality rates have also dropped consistently. While it was 2.95% at end of May 2020, and 1.57% at the end of September 2020, the  COVID -19  case  fatality  rate  currently  stands  at  1.44%,  wh ich  is  one  of  the  lowest  among  similarly affected countries.

(d):  Government  of  India  adopted  a  whole  of  Government,  whole  of  society  approach effectively manage COVID - 19 in the country. Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, unde extant provisions of DM Act constituted 11 Empowered Groups on different aspects of COVID -19 management in the country to fast track informed decisions on issues including (i) m emergency  planning,  (ii)  availability  of  hospitals,  isolation  and  quarantine  facilit ease surveillance  and  testing,  (iii)  ensuring  availability  of  essential  medical  equipme augmenting human resource and capacity building, (v) supply chain and logistics manageme (vi) coordination with private sector, (vii) economic and welfare me asures, (viii) information, communications  and  public  awareness,  (ix)  technology  and  data  management,  (x)  publ grievance and (xi) strategic issues related to lockdown.

These  groups  were  restructured  on  11th  September,  2020  into  6  Groups  based  on  t need and evolving scenario.

On 8 th January 2021, another Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration has been constituted  to  take  all  necessary  measures  for  effective  implementation  of  CO - WIN  platform created for inventory management and delivery of COVID - 19 v accine.

For  appropriate  management  of  suspect/confirmed  COVID - 19  cases,  a  three  tier arrangement  of  health  facilities  has  been  implemented  in  consultation  with  the Governments:

- COVID Care Center (CCC) that shall offer care for mild cases.
- Dedicated C OVID  Health  Centre  (DCHC)  that  shall  offer  care  for  all  cases  that  ha been clinically assigned as moderate.
- Dedicated  COVID  Hospital  (DCH)  that  shall  offer  comprehensive  care  primarily  fo those who have been clinically assigned as severe.

Tertiary  care hospitals  under  ESIC,  Defence,  Railways,  paramilitary  forces,  Stee Ministry etc. are also being leveraged for case management.

In addition, States have opted for public private partnership with many private hospitals as stand - alone COVID hospitals. DRDO has set up large field hospitals with capacities rang from 1000 to 10,000 isolation beds.

Starting with just one laboratory for testing of samples for COVID - 19,  the network of existing  laboratories  has  been  expanded  vastly  to  test  sample s  for  COVID - 19.  As  on  2nd February  2021,  a  total  of  2364  laboratories  have  been  approved  for  COVID - 19  Testing. At present India is testing about a 7 - 8 lakh samples a day.

Due to reliance on imports for some of the crucial logistics, indigenous manufactur g of personal  protective  equipment,  testing  kits,  ventilators  was  facilitated  to  improve  t manufacturing and availability.

States have also supported in terms of supply of logistics. So far 1.69 crore of P 4.08  crores  N - 95  masks,  11.16 crore  tablets  of  Hydroxychloroquine,  36,948  ventilators  and 1,02,400 oxygen cylinders have been supplied to States/UTs/ Central Government hospitals far  (as  reported  on  2nd  February  2021).    In  addition,  oxygen  concentrators  are  also supplied to St ates.

(e)&  (f):  Life  insurance  benefits  have  been  extended  to  all  healthcare  workers,  unde 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID -19' announced on 30 March 2020. Ministry of Health and Family welfare has collaborated with the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited for providing the insurance amount based on the guidelines prepared for the scheme. This insurance scheme provides a life insurance c Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including comm n ty health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID - 19 patients and therefore are at risk of being infected. It includes accidental loss of life on account of COVID - 19 related duty.