Tri[ura CM Biplab Deb overseeing a COVID-19 drill in Agartala. Image: Northeast Now
Tripura CM Biplab Deb overseeing a COVID-19 drill in Agartala. (File image)

The central government on Friday hailed Assam, Tripura and 17 other states for registering a higher doubling rate in terms of COVID-19 cases which reflects reduction in increase of this pandemic.

“Before the lockdown, India’s doubling rate was about 3 days. For the past seven days, the doubling rate is 6.2 days.

“19 States/UTs including Kerala, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Ladakh, Himachal, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, UP, Karnataka, J&K, Punjab, Assam, Tripura are presently showing a higher doubling rate, which is better than the national average, which reflects that rate of increase of cases in these places has been reduced to some extent,” said Lav Aggrawal, joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and family Welfare.

He said an average growth factor of 1.2 since 1st April  2020 as compared to 2.1 in the two weeks proceeding that (15th March to 31st March) is observed for Covid 19, which is about a 40 percent decline (2.1-1.2)/2.1 in growth factor.

He said India has witnessed an increase of 1007 new cases and 23 new deaths since yesterday, with a total of 13,387 confirmed cases for COVID-19 in the country.

“As many as 1749 persons have been cured and discharged after recovery,” said Aggrawal.

Till date Assam registered 35 COVID-19 positive cases, Arunachal Pradesh 1, Manipur 2, Meghalaya 9, Mizoram 1 and Tripura registered 2 Covid positive cases.

Aggrawal said that government is working with global partners to ensure that effective vaccines can be developed, and made available as soon as possible.

“India is a participant in the Solidarity trial of the World Health Organization, through which the effectiveness of these therapies is being determined.

“Scientific task forces are evaluating existing approved drugs and repurpose them for COVID-19. CSIR has progressed into an indigenous synthesis of multiple promising anti-viral molecules such as Umifenovir, Favipiravir.

“Phytopharmaceuticals and leads from traditional medical systems are also being explored in parallel along with Ministry of AYUSH,” he said.