Covid-19 Bulletin: Highest single day recovery of 57,584, nearly 9 lakh tests done in 24 hours

New Delhi: India has set another record in COVID-19 tests conducted per day. Nearly 9 lakh (8,99,864) tests have been conducted in a single day, the highest tests in a day so far. With this, the cumulative tests have reached 3,09,41,264. Even with such a high level of testing, the positivity has remained low i.e. 8.81% compared to the weekly national average i.e. 8.84%. India has also recorded the highest single-day recoveries of 57,584 in the last 24 hours.

Record Highest Single Day Recoveries of 57,584, Total Recoveries exceed Active Cases by more than 13 lakh

This is higher than the confirmed cases added during the same period (55,079). With more patients recovering and being discharged from hospitals and home isolation (in case of mild and moderate cases), the total recoveries have crossed the 19 lakh mark (19,77,779). With this, the gap between the recovered patients and the active cases has crossed 13 lakh today (13,04,613).

Continuous increase in average daily recoveries has led to India’s Recovery Rate touching 73.18% and a low Case Fatality Rate (1.92%). As a result of collaborative and focused efforts by the Centre and State/UT governments built on effective implementation of the TEST, TRACK, TREAT strategy of the Union Government, 30 States/UTs are reporting lower CFR than the national average. The actual caseload of the country i.e. the active cases (6,73,166), is only 24.91% of the total positive cases.

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration meets the Domestic Vaccine Manufactures

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration yesterday met leading domestic vaccine manufactures- Serum Institute of India, Pune; Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad; ZydusCadila, Ahmedabad; Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Pune, and Biological E, Hyderabad. The meeting was mutually beneficial and productive.

It provided the National Expert Group with inputs about the present stage of various candidate vaccines being developed by the indigenous manufacturers as well as their expectations from the Union Government.

Awards announced for Indo-U.S. Virtual Networks for COVID-19

Eight binational teams consisting of researchers from India and the US have received awards to pursue cutting-edge research in pathogenesis and disease management of COVID-19 through Indo-US virtual networks. The areas of research they will pursue include antiviral coatings, immune modulation, tracking SARS CoV-2 in wastewater, disease detection mechanisms, reverse genetics strategies, and drug repurposing.

The awards have been announced by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in support of the efforts of the medical and scientific community to find solutions to the COVID 19 pandemic and emerging global challenges. The IUSSTF is an autonomous bilateral organization jointly funded by the Governments of India and the US.

Exports of agricultural commodities during March to June 2020 increased by 23.24% compared to corresponding period in 2019

As per WTO’s Trade Statistics, share of India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27% and 1.90%, respectively. Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export.

The exports of Agri-commodities during March 2020 to June 2020 were Rs. 25552.7 Crore against export of Rs. 20734.8 Crore during the same period in 2019, showing a sharp increase of 23.24%.The agricultural exports as a percentage of India’s agricultural GDP have increased from 9.4 % in 2017-18 to 9.9 % in 2018-19. While the agricultural imports as a percentage of India’s agricultural GDP have declined from 5.7 % to 4.9 % indicating exportable surplus and decreased dependence on the import of agricultural products in India.

Dharmendra Pradhan appeals to steel industry leaders to partner with the Government in providing low-cost housing for migrant labourers

Minister of Steel & Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has appealed to Steel industry leaders to partner with the Government in providing low-cost housing for migrant labourers. Speaking as the Chief guest at a Webinar today, he referred to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ scheme and called upon PSUs and steel industry leaders to partner with the Government in the project. He said that the industry should build steel-intensive, low-cost houses which will be model for others to emulate.

The Minister said that the industry should partner in such welfare-oriented initiatives of the Government, as the AatamNirbhar Bharat seeks to provide dignity and self-respect to every citizen of the country. Pradhan said during the Covid crisis, Indian industry rose to the occasion and manufactured PPE kits, Masks and ventilators in large numbers, and Indian pharma industry supplied medicines to 150 countries. On similar lines, India, which is already the second-largest producer in the world, should emerge as a preferred source for steel requirements.

FACT CHECK