Community transmission of Coronavirus has not begun in India: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

The number of positive coronavirus cases has crossed the 9 lakh mark in India and the highly contagious virus has already claimed more than 23,000 thousand lives. Given how the virus is spreading at an alarming rate in the country (with record high cases every other day), experts are concerned that India may have reached the stage of community transmission.

For the unversed, community transmission is when you cannot identify the clear source of infection in a new community and the virus can infect anyone with no history of contact with affected people and areas. It is also known as the third stage of transmission, after which it becomes really difficult to contain the infection.

In a recent press conference, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has reiterated the fact India has still not reached community transmission phase currently. Speaking to a media outlet (CNN-News 18), the Health Minister insisted even that though localised transmission may have begun in places like Dharavi, Mumbai, it was effectively and quickly brought in control by timely action and management.

Harsh Vardhan said all the calculations by various experts about the number of coronavirus cases in India and its fatality rate have been “proven wrong.” He said that India’s recovery rate which is close to 60 per cent is a good indicator and widespread testing and management in the country has resulted in one of the lowest fatality rates.

The Union Health Minister also shed light on the controversial statement by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) that India’s first COVID-19 vaccine will be launched on 15 August 2020. He asserted that there was no set deadline for the creation of vaccine and the notification of fast-tracking the vaccine candidate has not been interpreted correctly. Health Minister maintained that the “development of vaccine will take time and there is no fixed timeline for the same.”

It should be noted that the Indian Council of Medical Research had landed itself in the soup after targeting to launch an indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (Covaxine) by August 15, 2020. The statement by medical body was met with a lot of criticism and scepticism and ICMR later clarified that they haven’t set any deadline for Covaxine, rather they aim to finish clinical trials as soon as possible.