New Delhi: India's covid-19 patient count has hit 873. There are at least 775 active COVID-19 cases in India at present, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 873.

Besides 778 active cases, the country has reported 19 deaths so far while 78 persons have recovered or been discharged from hospital.

The disease has so far spread to 27 states and union territories.

Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, "The government is taking preemive and proactive approach to tackle the situation. In order to upgrade the number of ventilators in the country," adding "We have given an order to PSU to provide 10,000 ventilators. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which is one of the Defence Ministry's PSUs, has also been requested to purchase 30,000 additional ventilators in 1-2 months."