The Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Wednesday (April8, 2020) said that the number of fresh cases linked to COVID-19 has risen to5,194 and the death toll stands at 149. Addressing a press briefing in thenational capital, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, said, “Thetotal number of coronavirus cases has risen to 5,194 with 773 cases and 32 newdeaths reported in last 24 hours since Tuesday, taking the toll to 149.’’

“As many as 402 patients have recovered,” Lav Agarwal said.

Agarwal stated that as the number of COVID-19 cases isrising in the country, the country’s response and preparedness is also beingintensifying accordingly. The top Health Ministry official said that inhospitals, the main focus is on infection prevention and control measures arebeing followed so that health workers aren't infected by COVID-19.

Infections in hospital staff is a big challenge, and we arelooking at a behavioural change in the hospital setup. Infection control normsmust be followed,’’ Agarwal said.

He added that the Centre has directed the states to continueits focus on building hospitals and on surveillance and contact tracing.

Lav Agarwal further stated that physicians have beendirected to take care of pregnant women who may be suspected to be positive.Training modules will be launched to deal with suspected COVID-19 cases ofpregnant women, he informed.

The Health Ministry official also assured that there isenough stock of hydroxychloroquine available in the country. “It is ensuredthat not only today even in future there will not be any lack of HCQ  (Hydroxychloroquine) as and when needed,’’Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

During the joint press briefing, R Gangakhedkar, a seniorIndian Council of Medical Research official, said that a total of 1,21,271tests for COVID-19 have been done so far. The COVID-19 death toll in India istoo small to say that the number of deaths in Maharashtra is significantlyhigh, the ICMR official said while responding to a question.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held athree-and-a-half hour-long meeting via video conferencing with Parliament floorleaders of all major political parties over the lockdown situation in thecountry. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan said that PM mentionedsuggestions he had received over the lockdown and said that almost everyoneadvocated not lifting the restrictions as of now. The PM said that suggestionshe is getting are for continuing the lockdown. I suggested that wheneverlockdown is lifted, it should be in a phased manner. We should keep interstateborders sealed, even entry from one district to another district should berestricted," Paswan said.

According to him, almost all floor leaders suggested thatthis lockdown should not be lifted in the present situation and should becontinued. "The Prime Minister heard everyone carefully and took notes ofthe suggestions," Paswan said while mentioning that every leader assuredthe PM that they will support the decision taken by the government.

The meeting via video conference was attended by Congress`Ghulam Nabi Azad, TMC`s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Shiv Sena`s Sanjay Raut, BJD`sPinaki Misra, NCP`s Sharad Pawar, SP`s Ram Gopal Yadav, SAD`s Sukhbir SinghBadal, BSP`s Satish Chandra Mishra, YSRCP`S Vijay Sai Reddy and Mithun Reddy,JDU`s Rajeev Ranjan Singh among others.

The PM has been interacting with various stakeholders andleaders since the imposition of the lockdown on March 25.