No community, area should be blamed for COVID-19 spread, healthcare workers shouldn`t be targeted, says Centre

In its daily briefing, the ministry said frontline workers are putting themselves at risk in the fight against the pandemic and they need to be appreciated.

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Monday (April 27) during the routine media briefing on coronavirus COVID-19 said that at least 1,396 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking its total tally to 27,892 in the country. It said that at least 381 patients were recovered in the past one day and so far, 6,184 people have cured of the infection.

The ministry said that the recovery rate of patients in India is 22.17 per cent, and is improving regularly.

Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said 16 districts which earlier had positive cases have not reported any new case of COVID-19 in the last 28 days. Maharashtra's Gondia, Karnataka' Devangere and Bihar's Lakhi Sarai were added to this list on April 24. On the other hand, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar in Punjab, which did not have any new case in last 28 days, have now reported fresh cases.

He added that a total of 85 districts in 25 states and UTs have not reported any fresh case in the last 14 days.

He further urged people to ensure that no community or area should be blamed for the spread of the virus and healthcare and sanitation workers should not be attacked as they are helping in bringing the crisis under control.

At the briefing, empowered group-5 chairperson Param Iyer said cooked meals are being served to 1.5 crore people daily by the government, NGOs and industry as per data available on April 25.

He said that strict restrictions will continue in regions which have been marked as red and orange and authorities will ensure that lockdown violation doesn't take place.