New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Friday said that the doubling rate of Covid-19 cases now stands at 13.3 days, which is far better than 3.4 days since the beginning of the lockdown. Covid-19 cases would have also increased exponentially in the absence of the lockdown, it added.

Emphasising the improved mortality rate, the ministry said the COVID-19 fatality rate has dropped from 3.13 per cent to 3.02 per cent, and the authorities involved in tackling the viral infection are concentrating on containment measures and clinical management of cases. India is currently in the fourth phase of the lockdown which was imposed on March 25 to contain the outbreak of coronavirus. "We need to save the country from deaths due to Covid-19," the ministry said.