India far better than world in controlling coronavirus spread

New Delhi : Coronavirus has managed to infect less than eight people per lakh of population in India, the Union Health Ministry said Wednesday evening, pointing out how it is over 60 per lakh people as global average.

The government also said India's per lakh mortality rate was only 0.24, compared to the global average of 4.2.

Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal also said it was "satisfactory to note that 42,298 people have recovered" from the illness so far and that the recovery rate (recoveries as a percentage of total cases) had improved steadily through the four phases of lockdown - from 7.1 per cent in March (when it was imposed) - to 39.62 per cent today.

"If the total population of the world is taken into account, then 62 people per lakh (of) population have been affected by COVID-19. In India, 7.9 people per lakh (of) population have been affected," Mr Agarwal said, adding, "Across the world 4.2 people per lakh (of) population have died due to COVID-19. In India it is 0.2 deaths per lakh (of) population".

According to data from the United States-based Johns Hopkins University, India has a per lakh mortality rate of 0.24, compared to 28.10 in the US, 53.27 in the United Kingdom and 53.23 per cent in Italy, placing it outside the top 10.

China's mortality rate is comparable to India's - 0.33 per cent.

Meanwhile, India registered its biggest surge till date in the morning with 5,611 new cases in last 24 hours.

Overall the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 1,06,750 with 3,303 deaths linked to the virus; 140 were reported over a 24-hour period, per government data this morning. 42,298 have been discharged after receiving treatment, leaving 61,149 active cases.