The health ministry, on Tuesday, said the "ultimate" aim of the government is to bring down the COVID-19 positivity rate to 5 per cent. Positivity rate refers to the number of people who test positive for the disease from among the percentage of people who are tested.
The ministry pointed out that aggressive testing is necessary to bring down the positivity rate.
Even as the number of COVID-19 cases continued to go up, the ministry noted that 30 states and union territories have registered positivity rate lower than the national average.
Further, the ministry pointed out that the mortality rate in India was among the world's lowest. The country has so far recorded over 28,000 COVID-19 deaths. India's deaths per million population stand at 20.4, while the global average is at 77, according to media reports.
India had recorded 37,148 COVID-19 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 11,55,191.
Meanwhile, Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said India's two COVID-19 vaccines are in phase 1 and 2 of trials. "Discussions have already begun how will the vaccines be made available to all those who need it," he was quoted as saying.
"Government of India will leave no stone unturned to ensure people of India and the international community have access to an Indian vaccine as early as possible. Every possible facilitation will be ensured making sure trials conducted scientifically and ethically, and we arrive at an affordable option," he said.
