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- Published: September 17, 2020 20:56
New Delhi: Recovery rate from Coronavirus is on the upswing with latest figures reaching 78.64%. In last 24 hours, more than 82 thousand COVID patients have recovered, for 2nd consecutive day in a row.
According to Health Ministry, the total number of recoveries has reached 40.25 lakh. The constantly increasing recoveries have ensured that the actual caseload of the country has flattened to a large extent and currently comprises only 19.73% of the total positive cases.
It said that active cases of Covid 19 in the country are less than one fifth of the total cases.
Total recoveries cross 40 lakh, recovery percentage at 78.64%
India has been registering very high recoveries for two consecutive days. More than 82,000 COVID patients have been cured and discharged in the past two days. 82,961 active cases were found free of COVID in the last 24 hours. Spurred by this number of very high recoveries, the national Recovery Rate continues to follow its rising curve. It stands at 78.64% today. More than 40 lakh (40,25,079) patients have recovered so far. Recovered cases have exceeded Active Cases today by more than 30 lakhs (30,15,103) today, and are four times the latter. These high levels of recovery have resulted in a 100% increase in the number of recovered cases in the past 30 days. Maharashtra (17,559) contributed more than one-fifth of the new recoveries (21.22%) while the States of Andhra Pradesh (10,845), Karnataka (6580), Uttar Pradesh (6476) and Tamil Nadu (5768) contributed 35.87% of the new recoveries. These States together account for 57.1% of total new recoveries. The total number of active cases in the country has crossed 10 lakhs (10,09,976) as on date. Close to half (48.45%) of the Active Cases are concentrated in 3 States; Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Together with the States of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, these 5 states contribute nearly 60% of the total active cases. 1132 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. With 474 new cases of mortality in, Maharashtra accounted for more than 40% of the new deaths. The following four States of Uttar Pradesh (86), Punjab (78), Andhra Pradesh (64), West Bengal (61) contributed 25.5% of the fatalities in the last 24 hours.
Govt sets target for 10,500 Janaushadhi Kendras by end of March 2024
Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri D V SadanandaGowda has said that with a vision to provide quality medicines at affordable rates for the common men especially the poor, Govt. of India has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri BhartiyaJanaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) to 10500 by the end of March 2024. The PMBJKs are being set up by Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India under Deptt of Pharmaceuticals (M/o C& F). With this, all the districts in the country will have Janaushadhi kendras. This will ensure easy reach of affordable medicines to the people in every nook and corner of the country. As on 15 September 2020 the number of stores in the country has increased to 6603. With approved budget of Rs. 490 crore for the period 2020-21 to 2024- 25, PMBJP Scheme has drastically brought down the prices of quality medicines and making them available to a large section of population, especially the poor.
Measures for welfare of Pensioners during COVID-19
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh said in a written reply in RajyaSabha today that several measures have been taken for the benefit of pensioners during COVID-19.The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, ever since the lockdown due to unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, has been taking various initiatives for the pensioners, to ensure the timely credit of pension & retirement benefits and keep them healthy and aware during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Anganwadis across the Country
As per the directions issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, all the Anganwadi Centres across the country were closed to limit the impact of COVID-19. During the consultation held with States/UTs in the month of July 2020, most of the States had also expressed their inability to open Anganwadi Centres in the light of increasing incidents of COVID-19. However, to ensure continuous nutritional support to Anganwadi beneficiaries, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers have been distributing supplementary Nutrition at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries. Further, WCD Ministry has issued necessary directions to the States/UTs to ensure distribution of food items and nutrition support by Anganwadi workers, once in 15 days, at the doorstep of beneficiaries. In addition, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers have been assisting the local administration in community surveillance, creating awareness or other works assigned to them from time to time. This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. SmritiZubinIrani in RajyaSabha today.
Education Ministry’s initiative for school children during COVID-19
During COVID-19 Pandemic, Ministry of Education has held several consultations with the states and UTs at various levels and taken many initiatives to ensure that the school going students don’t lag behind in their studies during COVID-19 pandemic which includePM eVIDYAunifying all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education. A week-wise plan for grades 1 to 12 has been developed in three languages by NCERT.PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education have been developed with a focus on online/blended/digital education for students who are presently at home due to the closure of schools. ‘MANODARPAN’ covers a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond.This information was given by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in a written reply in the RajyaSabha today.
Steps taken by Govt to support tribal communities during Covid
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has constituted a team of officers to prepare the roadmap and take necessary measures for implementation/realization of initiatives to restore growth in the economy after the Covid-19 Pandemic. MoTA also revised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP). To provide a fillip to the Income generating activities of tribals through MFP Procurements, revised MSP for MFP guidelines were issued on May 1 2020, which increased the MSP prices of the MFPs and helped in providing higher incomes for the tribal gatherers. Moreover, on May 26, 2020, the MoTA also added 23 new items under the MSP for MFP list taking the total number of MFPs under the scheme to 73. These items include agricultural and horticultural produce collected by tribal gatherers. The COVID response team of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs formulated a COVID-19 Pandemic response plan for Scheduled Tribe livelihood and Health. The same has been circulated among various stakeholders for necessary action. States/UTs have been asked to utilize the funds from State TSP as well as submit a comprehensive proposal on these lines under various schemes of this Ministry. This information was given by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta in a written reply in RajyaSabha today.
Supply of Meals to students during Lockdown
State Governments and UT Administrations have been advised to provide Food Security Allowance (FSA) comprising of foodgrains, pulses, oil etc (equivalent to cooking cost) to all eligible children till such time as their schools are closed due to the pandemic. The modalities for this purpose are decided by the respective States and UTs, according to the prevailing circumstances. States and UTs have also been advised to take necessary precautionary measures in view of the situation caused by COVID-19. This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. SmritiZubinIrani in RajyaSabha today.
Air bubbles formed with countries like UK, USA, Germany, France……
All efforts have been made to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the aviation sector. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, domestic air services have been restarted in a calibrated manner. Initially only one third of the summer schedule 2020 was allowed to be operated which was subsequently increased to 45% on 26 Jun 2020 and then to 60% on 02 Sep 2020. Operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme- UDAN flights were allowed without the above-mentioned restrictions. Exclusive air-links or Air Bubbles have been established with countries which include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Qatar, Maldives, UAE, UK and USA. These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting international passenger services while regular international flights remain suspended due to COVID-19. Adequate care was taken to ensure that cargo terminals at all major airports were operational, whenever required. This information was given in a written reply by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) Civil Aviation, in LokSabha today.
5817 flights till date to repatriate Indian nationals
Vande Bharat Mission consists of special repatriation flights operated by Indian carriers and chartered flights operated by both Indian and foreign carriers. As per information provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as on 31.08.2020, a total of 5817 flights (inbound to India) were operated to repatriate Indian nationals. This information was given in a written reply by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C), Civil Aviation in RajyaSabha yesterday.
36th National Games allotted to Goa postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic
The 36th National Games allotted to Goa, which was scheduled from 20.10.2020 to 04.11.2020, had been postponeddue to outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.Central assistance of Rs.97.80 crore has been released to the Government of Goa for creation / development of sports infrastructure for 36th National Games.This information was given by Union Minister of State (IC) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri KirenRijiju in a written reply in LokSabha today.