Health Ministry attributes spike in COVID-19 deaths to some states finally sending correct death reports

National

In its latest bulletin related to novel coronavirus- COVID-19 situation in India on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said that the total number of coronavirus positive cases has now reached 46, 433. About 3,900 new cases, 195 deaths and 1,020 recoveries have been reported in last 24 hours and the recovery rate is now at 27.41%. The health ministry emphasised that there has been a spike in the number of death cases today because the ministry had to persuade certain states to send reports of cases/deaths on time.

Even though the health ministry refrained from mentioning the states, West Bengal recently found itself at the centre of a controversy for reporting different mortality data from the health ministry. The chief secretary of the state Rajiva Sinha recently admitted faults in its COVID-19 figures reporting structure and said that they are quoting the right figure. The additional 72 deaths mentioned in the audit report of Inter ministerial central team are co-morbidity deaths, i.e the primary cause of the death is not coronavirus but pre-existing health conditions.

He added that the West Bengal hospitals have been asked to not report the co-morbidity deaths. No figures were reported in the last 3 days because their reporting structure was very complicated. They are trying to keep the arrangements dynamic and improved so that no figures are lost in the cracks.

Total number of positive cases of #COVID19 is 46,433. In last 24 hours there have been 3,900 new cases, 195 deaths and 1,020 people have recovered. The recovery rate is 27.41% : Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/8REKjNyHAa

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020

We persuaded certain states as we were not receiving reports of cases/deaths on time from them, after which the cases have been reported and we have seen spike in death cases today: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5JsXpBprxP

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020

The health ministry added that the country needs to ensure that people, who do not suffer from COVID-19, continue to get proper medical attention at both government and private hospitals, especially services for critically ill patients.

We also need to ensure that people continue to receive non-COVID19 healthcare services at both government and private facilities. Services for critically ill patients should also run smoothly: Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry Joint Secretary pic.twitter.com/IZVqfuCzWo

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020

MHA Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava urged all offices to ensure thermal screening of employees. She said that the office incharges must ensure that there are sufficient face masks and sanitisers within the office, social distancing norms are being followed and employees have registered themselves on Aarogya Setu app. She also laid out social distancing guidelines for events like weddings and last rites.

The offices that are operational now must ensure thermal scanning of employees.The incharge must ensure sufficient availability of face masks&sanitisers. Social distancing norms must be followed. Employees must be registered on Aarogya Setu app:Joint Secy,Ministry of Home Affairs pic.twitter.com/dYYXnzSdPG

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020

To maintain social distancing, gathering of not more than 50 persons are allowed at wedding functions and not more than 20 persons at last rites of deceased persons: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/S2VnxxxZRv

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020