New Delhi: There is no community transmission of COVID-19 at the national level, while the lockdown measures helped in controlling the spread of the deadly virus until now, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava said on Thursday.

"There is a heightened debate on community transmission. WHO has not given definition on it. India is such a large country and the prevalence is so low. The prevalence is less than one percent in small districts. It is slightly higher in urban areas. In the containment areas, it may be slightly higher. But, we are definite that India is not in community transmission," Bhargava said at the daily press briefing.

"I would like to emphasise that it is not in community transmission."

The ICMR chief, however, said they have to continue with the strategy of testing, tracing, tracking and quarantine. He also stressed on to continue with the containment measures, saying "we have found success with those measures until now".

The ICMR's clarification comes amid India recording its biggest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases with 9,996 fresh infections and 357 patients dying, taking the total number of cases to nearly 2.86 lakh cases. This is the ninth consecutive day that the country - fifth worst-hit by the pandemic - reported over 9,000 COVID-19 cases.