Coronavirus Pandemic | Positive Cases Mount To 979 In India, Death Count Rises To 25: Health Ministry

Till now there have been 979 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country, including 25 deaths, the Health Ministry informed on Saturday. While addressing the media, Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said, "Till now there have been 979 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country, including 25 deaths. In the last 24 hours, 106 new positive cases & 6 deaths have been reported." "Under Indian Railways, 1.25 lakh wagons transporting essential commodities, such as food grains, sugar, salt, coal, petroleum, etc, have been operated in last 5 days," he added.

#WATCH Data being monitored at state level.High risk cases, which include age/contact history as criteria & which are found serious are monitored. Figures not available with me right now: Jt Secy,Union Health Ministry on being asked about no. of #COVID19 patients on ventilator pic.twitter.com/fkQ7JUy3D9

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2020

While addressing the media the ICMR said that till today they have conducted 34,931 tests. "Capacity utilization in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) network is around 30 percent. We have increased some labs, 113 have been made functional & 47 private labs have been given approval," ICMR's R Ganga Ketkar said.

The health ministry on Sunday said 106 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths were reported from six states in the last 24 hours. Joint Secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said till now, there are 979 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, including 25 deaths.

Raman Gangakhedkar of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) said till Sunday, 34,931 tests were conducted for the contagion. "Capacity utilisation in the ICMR network is around 30 per cent. We have increased the number of laboratories, 113 have been made functional and 47 private laboratories have been given the approval to conduct COVID-19 tests," he said.

Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said employers must be instructed to give full wages to workers on the due date without any deduction for the closed-down period and landlords cannot charge rent for this period.

She also said the workers cannot be forced to vacate the premises. "The SPs and DMs will be held personally responsible for its strict implementation," Srivastava said, referring to the orders issued to stop the mass exodus of migrant workers. She also said that the states were instructed to seal the borders. Agarwal said the ongoing 21-day lockdown has resulted in some behavioural, mental health issues and NIMHANS has launched a toll-free number -- 08046110007 -- for consultation.

Asked to provide the number of patients presently on ventilator, he said that data was being monitored at the state level.

(With agency inputs)