India has recorded a single-day rise of 3,095 fresh COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally of cases to 4.47 crore (4,47,15,786), according to the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. The active caseload has increased to 15,208, while the total number of people who have recovered from the disease is at 4.41 crore (4,41,69,711). The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.61%, and the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 1.91%. The government has administered over 220.65 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses under the nationwide drive, with over 13.2 crore people receiving the first dose and over 4.3 crore people receiving the second dose.

 

To increase the rate of vaccination, the government has launched the 'Tika Utsav' (vaccination festival) from April 11 to April 14. The festival aims to encourage people to get vaccinated and to increase awareness about the importance of vaccination in the fight against COVID-19.

 

The government has also launched the 'MyGov Corona Helpdesk', a 24x7 helpline for people to get their queries regarding the pandemic answered. The helpline provides information on the availability of beds in hospitals, oxygen availability, and other related queries. Additionally, the government has launched the Aarogya Setu app, which helps people to know if they have come in contact with any COVID-19 positive person. The app also provides information on the availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, and other related queries.

 

The government has taken several steps to contain the spread of the virus such as imposing restrictions, issuing guidelines, and imposing lockdowns. The government has urged people to follow all the guidelines issued by the government such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. Reference source: TH

 

UPSC Main Exam question 

 

Discuss the current status of COVID-19 in India and the measures taken by the government to contain its spread.

 

Answer: COVID-19 continues to be a major public health challenge in India, with the country having one of the highest number of cases in the world. As of March 31, 2023, India has recorded a total of 4.47 crore (4,47,15,786) COVID-19 cases, with a single-day rise of 3,095 fresh cases. The active caseload has increased to 15,208, while the total number of people who have recovered from the disease is at 4.41 crore (4,41,69,711). The case fatality rate in India is currently at 1.19%.

 

To contain the spread of the virus, the Indian government has taken several measures. The government has launched a nationwide vaccination drive to vaccinate the population against the virus. As of March 31, 2023, a total of 220.65 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered under the nationwide drive. The government has also opened up the vaccination drive for people above the age of 45 from March 1. Additionally, the government has launched the ‘Tika Utsav’ (vaccination festival) from April 11 to April 14 to increase the rate of vaccination.

 

The government has also launched the ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’, a 24x7 helpline for people to get their queries regarding the pandemic answered. The helpline provides information on the availability of beds in hospitals, oxygen availability, and other related queries. The government has also launched the Aarogya Setu app, which helps people to know if they have come in contact with any COVID-19 positive person. The app also provides information on the availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, and other related queries.

 

To control the spread of the virus, the government has imposed various restrictions and guidelines. The government has imposed lockdowns in areas with high case numbers, and has urged people to follow all the guidelines issued by the government such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. The government has also implemented various measures such as increased testing and tracing, and setting up COVID-19 treatment centers across the country.

 

In conclusion, while India has made progress in its fight against COVID-19, the pandemic is still a major public health challenge. The government's efforts to increase vaccination rates, provide information and support to people through helplines and apps, and implement guidelines and restrictions to control the spread of the virus are commendable. It is important for the public to continue to follow all safety guidelines and protocols, and to get vaccinated as soon as possible to help contain the spread of the virus.