Even asthe country currently ranks fifth in the total number of deaths (45,257) due toCovid-19, India’s health ministry on Tuesday reiterated that deaths as aproportion of known infected cases has been falling consistently. Though fargreater number of deaths due to novel Coronavirus are happening these days, thedeaths as a proportion of known infected cases has dropped below 2 per cent forthe first time now.

Speakingto 10 states which are currently the worst affected by the pandemic, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi said containment, contact tracing, and surveillance arethe “most effective weapons” in the battle against Covid-19. The Prime Ministerurged the chief ministers to follow the mantra of testing and tracing all thosewho have come in contact with an infected individual within 72 hours.

Globally,over 20 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus, including7,38,063 deaths. Amid race for an effective vaccine worldwide, Russia hasapproved a Covid vaccine for public use without the final phase of humantrials. The vaccine, Sputnik V, has cleared regulatory approvals in recordtime, raising concerns over its safety and effectiveness. But, it is a long wayfrom being available in India, if at all.