Lockdown saved 37,000-78,000 lives, averted 14-29 lakh COVID-19 cases

New Delhi, May 22: The coronavirus lockdown led to 14-29 lakh COVID-19 cases being averted while the number of lives saved in that period was between 37,000 and 78,000, the government said on Friday citing various studies, and asserted that the unprecedented shutdown has paid "rich dividends" in the fight against the pandemic.

The lockdown in India has been a timely, graded, proactive and pre-emptive public health measure to fight the pandemic and has been part and parcel of the government''s overall strategy, Dr V K Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog, and chairman of the Empowered Group 1, told a media briefing on the COVID-19 situation.

The government imposed the nationwide lockdown from March 25 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and it is currently in its fourth phase.