Lockdown, distancing most effective Covid-19 'social vaccines': Vardhan

On PPEs, he said all potential manufacturers based in India were contacted and provided handholding support to make good-quality PPEs.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said, "Given the size of India's population, coronavirus testing needs to be scaled up in a manner that can be sustained." He further added that lockdown and social distancing are the most effective "social vaccines" available to fight the pandemic.

At the same time Vardhan, in an interview with The Week magazine, dispelled concerns that India might be testing fewer people than required and said testing has been extended in a manner to prioritise individuals who are primarily at risk of the infection.

As of April 8, a total of 1,04,764 tests