Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday launched an interactive first-of-its-kind COVID-19 awareness video game including two promotional videos aimed at informing people to adhere to the key protocols to stay safe from the infection. Titled as "The Corona Warriors", Mr Vardhan expressed his joy at the launch of the game and said it "presents a new and extremely creative way to teach people the right tools and behaviours to fight the COVID-19 pandemic."
In his statement, Mr Vardhan said the game has been designed to "influence the players'' actions in the real world, reminding them to take the right precautions and escape infection" and is available on www.thecoronafighters.in. The Minister was also quoted as saying, "This, along with two promotional videos, is a simply designed and enjoyable medium to get a serious message across to the wider public,".
Mr Vardhan also spoke about his experience with the Polio Abhiyaan which, he said, had people's active participation including the support and contribution of several notable film industry professionals, which helped it transform into a social movement. He said, "The Pulse Polio programme, through its targeted and engaging IEC (information, education and communication) and outreach campaigns, encouraged the last mile mothers to get their children immunized. The same effort can contain COVID by publicising COVID-appropriate behaviour through caller tunes and other mediums throughout the lockdown and thereafter during the phases of unlocking,".
The minister also said, "Till we get a vaccine for fighting COVID-19, the COVID-appropriate behaviours will serve as a potent social vaccine and keep us protected and safe,". India's coronavirus cases tally currently stands at 29,05,823 cases, with 69,652 fresh cases reported on Thursday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The country's recovery count has gone up to 21,58,946 persons who have been discharged after hospital treatment, while the death toll due to the novel coronavirus has risen to 54,849.