Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan says, India has one of lowest mortality rates in world but each death due to COVID is tragic and painful

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today said that India has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world but each and every death due to COVID is tragic and painful. He said, the National Mortality Rate has been falling and currently stands at 1.11 per cent. Briefing the media after visiting Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, he stressed on the need to work towards improving diagnosis and help as many people as possible using tele-consultations to provide right advice to the patients recovering at home.

The Minister said that more than 15 Crore doses have been given till date to health care workers, front line workers and people above the age of 45. He said that the new phase of the vaccine drive will start from 1st of May when people above the age of 18 will begin getting vaccinated. Appreciating the Co-WIN vaccine registration portal, the Minister said that seamless registrations are being done through the digitally and technologically sound portal.

The portal witnessed more than 80 lakh people registering themselves within just three hours from 4 pm to 7 pm yesterday. The Minister further stated that vaccination is a critical component of the containment and management strategy of the Government. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, the fight against the pandemic is ongoing and the Government is using all its experience to tackle the situation.