In the last 24 hours, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) tested 1,76,959 samples for Covid-19.

With 10,386 patients recovering from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, the number of people who have been cured now stands at 2,04,711, taking the recovery rate to 53.79%.

The total number of people confirmed with Covid-19 has gone up to 3,80,532 cases.

According to figures released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, the country reported 13,586 cases and 336 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 1,63,248 and the death toll to 12,573.

In the last 24 hours, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) tested 1,76,959 samples. This takes the total number of samples tested so far to 64,26,627.

No new case of novel coronavirus was registered in Mizoram in the last 24 hours. According to a statement by the Department of Information and Public Relations, all 814 samples tested at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Thursday have reported negative for COVID-19.

Several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpet, went into an intense 12-day lockdown from today in a bid to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases in the districts. The Greater Chennai Police have issued a series of instructions for the city residents to follow during the period. Barring hospitals, labs, ambulances, pharmacies, and funeral hearses, there are restrictions on other activities.

Karnataka model of contract tracing wins praise

The Centre has lauded Karnataka’s efforts at comprehensive contact tracing of COVID-19 positive cases. The state is carrying out a physical and phone-based household survey which has covered more than 1.5 crore households.

The Centre has asked the other States to adapt these best practices to their local context and replicate them for better management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Union Health Ministry pointed out that Karnataka has widened the definition of ‘Contact’ to include both the high risk as well as low risk contacts as defined by the Government of India. The number of primary and secondary contacts in Karnataka were meticulously traced and put under strict quarantine.

More than 10,000 well trained field staff carry out specific responsibilities for contact tracing. This is done as per the detailed SOP designed by the state which prescribes step-by-step actions to be performed by each designated person.

The Contact Tracing Mobile App and Web Application are being used to overcome the huge quantum of work, genuine forgetfulness of the positive persons and attempts to hide facts due to various reasons.