Fourth coronavirus death reported from Punjab, 173 positive cases across India: Health Ministry

India’s fourth novel coronavirus death has been reported from Punjab. As per the Ministry of Health website, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has gone up to 173. This includes 25 foreign nationals.

Out of the total positive cases, 20 people have been discharged after being cured of Coronavirus. So far, over 14.31 lakh passengers have been screened at various airports in the country. The Government has scaled up the efforts to combat the challenge of COVID 19 outbreak in the country.

A meeting of Group of Ministers, GoM was held in New Delhi to discuss ways and means to contain and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla also attended the meeting. The high-level meeting of the Group of Ministers is being held regularly to review the current status and actions for the prevention and management of COVID-19.

Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr Balram Bhargava today said that no evidence of Community Transmission or Stage-III of Coronavirus infection have been reported so far in the country. Talking exclusively to AIR News, Dr Bhargava said, all tests received were negative and there is no evidence of community transmission as per these results. He said, further scale-up of tests is in progress.