Significant improvement in COVID-19 parameters in MP: Chouhan

Bhopal, Jun 15 () Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has claimed a significant improvement in curbing the spread of coronavirus in the state, saying key parameters like doubling time of cases and the patient recovery rate are getting better.

As per a health bulletin, worst-hit Indore has showed a remarkable improvement in the scenario with just six of the total 1,058 samples returning a positive result on Sunday. The death toll increased by four to 174.

During a video conference on Sunday evening to review the situation and arrangements being made across Madhya Pradesh for tackling the COVID-19 crisis, Chouhan said the state stands second in the country in terms of recovery rate, and eighth in the number of cases.

"All COVID-19 parameters in the state have improved significantly. On Sunday, the number of active cases came down by 151 after 300 patients recovered and went home. The number of active cases now stands at 2,666," a public relations official quoted the chief minister as saying.

Chouhan said that doubling time of cases in Madhya Pradesh has increased to 34.1 days while the recovery rate has gone up to 71.1 per cent, "which is a very good sign".

Madhya Pradesh now stands second in the country in terms of the COVID-19 recovery rate after Rajasthan, which has the highest recovery rate of 75.3 per cent, he said.

"The recovery rate in Gujarat is 68.9 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 60 per cent and Tamil Nadu 54.8 per cent, while the recovery rate for the country stands at 50.6 per cent," he said.

Till Sunday (June 14), Madhya Pradesh reported 10,802 COVID-19 cases, including 4,063 from Indore district, and 459 deaths.

The chief minister said the pace of COVID-19 spread in the central Indian state has been the slowest in the country.

"The doubling time of cases in Madhya Pradesh is 34. 1 days, while that of the country is 18.4 days. The doubling time in Gujarat has been 30.2 days, Rajasthan 26.7 days, Maharashtra 21 days and Uttar Pradesh 18.6 days," he said.

Chouhan expressed the need to minimise the COVID-19 death rate for which best medical care should be ensured in all hospitals treating the infected patients.

Treatment protocols should be followed completely and special attention should be paid to every patient, he said.

Following the easing of restrictions, people need to be made aware that they should take all necessary precautions, the chief minister said.

Wearing masks, maintaining distance of two yards (six feet), washing hands with soap frequently, using sanitiser, and not spitting are all essential, he said, adding that public support should be taken to spread this awareness.

During the meeting, a senior health official informed that Madhya Pradesh's Indore ranked 7th among the 15 cities most affected by COVID-19 in the country.