Covid-19 Bulletin: Recovery rate @ 71.7%, India exports 23 PPE kits, blood donation camp as tribute to Corona warriors

New Delhi: India today conducted a record high of nearly 8,50,000 Covid-19 tests in a single day. This has taken the cumulative tests to over 2.76 crore. According to WHO, a country needs 140 tests per day per million population.

The Health Ministry has advised the States and UTs to scale up the testing on a commensurate level with the prevailing positivity.

Recovery rate @ 71.17%, fatality rate reduced to 1.95%

As a result of ramping up its testing facilities on a sustained basis, India has touched a new high of the highest number of tests in a single day, so far. A record high of 8,48,728 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. This has taken the cumulative tests to 2,76,94,416. WHO has advised that a country needs 140 tests per day per million population. While the national average is 603 tests/day/million population, 34 States/UTs have exceeded this figure.The network, as on today, consists of1451 labs with 958 in the government sector and 493 private labs. Successful implementation of TESTING aggressively, TRACKING comprehensively & TREATING efficiently has ensured a rising Recovery Rate, which stands at 71.17% today.

The total recovered COVID-19 patients have increased to more than 17.5 lakh (17,51,555). The recoveries exceed the active cases (6,61,595) by nearly 11 lakh (1,089,960). Effective clinical management through a Standard of Care treatment protocol has further ensured progressive and sustained decline in the mortality among COVID patients. The Case Fatality Rate is pegged at 1.95% today, maintaining its path of steady decline.

India exports 23 lakh PPEs in 1 month, Centre distributes 1.28 crore PPEs to States/UTs

In view of the strengthened domestic production capacity and having met the domestic requirements for PPEs, the revised notification of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in July 2020 permitted export of PPEs. As a result of this relaxation, in the month of July itself, India exported 23 lakh PPEs to five countries. These include the USA, UK, UAE, Senegal and Slovania. This has substantially aided India to position itself in the global export market of PPEs.

The “Make in India’ spirit embedded in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan has resulted in providing resilience and self-sufficiency to the country for various medical equipment including PPEs. While the Union Government is supplying PPEs, N95 masks, ventilators etc., to the State/UT Governments, States are also procuring these items directly. Between March to August 2020, they have procured 1.40 crore indigenous PPEs from their own budgetary resources. During the same period, the Centre has distributed 1.28 cr PPEs to States / UTs / Central Institutions, free of cost.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Voluntary Blood Donation Camp at AIIMS, Delhi

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp at AIIMS, New Delhi,today. The Minister encouraged the doctors and healthcare workers themselves to come up in large numbers on the eve of Independence Day to donate blood and save lives of patients. Appreciating the initiative taken up by AIIMS, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “On the eve of our 73rd Independence Day, this voluntary blood donation camp is a tribute to both fallen COVID white coat warriors and the Kargil martyrs.

We must remember the ultimate sacrifice made by the COVID warriors including doctors, nurses or paramedical staff while saving people’s lives in the pandemic.” To mark the event, the family members of COVID warrior Late Sh. Hiralal, who was a frontline health worker at AIIMS and family members of KargilShaheed Lance NaikRajbirSingh were honoured for their sacrifice.

Special arrangements made by MoD for Independence Day celebrations

Ministry of Defence is organising Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony on 15 August, 2020 at Red Fort, maintaining the balance between the sanctity and dignity of the National function while factoring in precautions related to the COVID-19 scenario. In order to facilitate seamless movement with the least chances of any crowding, seating enclosures and walkways are laid with wooden flooring and carpeting. Additional Door frame metal detectors, with adequately spaced markings have been provided to avoid queuing and to ensure smooth passage for all the invitees.

Most of the parking areas have been brick lined and paved in order to ensure smooth entry and exit of vehicles to the maximum feasible extent. Members of the Guard of Honour have been under quarantine to bring in safety. The guiding principle for seating has been “Do GazkiDoori” (or 6 feet) between any two guests seated during the event. In order to sensitize the invitees towards COVID related safety measures, specific Advisory for following the COVID related guidelines has been issued along with each invitation card. Adequate medical booths at four locations have been set up to cater to any attendee who is detected having any symptoms related to COVID-19 during entry. Ambulances would also be stationed at these four locations.

Launch of ‘AYUSH for Immunity Campaign’

The Ministry of AYUSH launched a three-month campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” today, through webinar. More than 50 thousand people participated in the Webinar. Key-note address by spiritual Guru Sri SriRavisankar, wherein he stated that Ayush solutions could lead the entire world to healthier and happier lives was the highlight of the event. The Webinar was staged on Ayush Virtual Convention Centre (AVCC), the new digital communication platform of the Ministry. The event was also streamed live on the official Facebook handle of Ministry of AYUSH and observed a total live viewership of 60000 people.

Finance Minister holds 3rd review meeting of CPSEs on CAPEX

Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. NirmalaSitharaman today held Video Conference with Secretaries of the Ministries of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Housing and Urban Affairs, Defence and Department of Telecommunications, along with the CMDs of 7 CPSEs belonging to these Ministries, to review the capital expenditure in this financial year. This was 3rd in the ongoing series of meetings that the Finance Minister is having with various stakeholders to accelerate the economic growth in the background of COVID – 19 pandemic.
Finance Minister asked the concerned Secretaries to closely monitor the performance of CPSEs in order to ensure capital expenditure to the tune of 50% of capital outlay by the end of Q2 of FY 2020-21 and make appropriate plan for it.She said that better performance of CPSEs can help the economy in a big way to recover from the impact of COVID 19.The CPSEs discussed constraints being faced by them especially due to COVID – 19 pandemic. The Finance Minister stated that extraordinary situation requires extraordinary efforts and with collective efforts, we will not only perform better but also help the Indian economy to achieve better results.

Shuttler N Sikki Reddy, physiotherapist Kiran C test Covid+

Shuttler N Sikki Reddy and physiotherapist Kiran C, who arrived at the National badminton camp at the PullelaGopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, have tested Covid postive. This came to light after they took SAI’s mandatory Covid test that is given to all players, coaches and support staff on arrival.Both Sikki and Kiran are aysmptomatic. All primary contacts of Sikki and Kiran have been traced and are being given the RT PCR test again.Speaking from Hyderabad, chief national badminton coach PullelaGopichand said, “All necessary precautions as per protocol are being taken so that players can come back for training safely and as soon as possible.”

Shipping Ministry reduces port tariff rates

Ministry of Shipping has rationalized tariff rates for the Cruise vessels. The net effect of the rate relaxation would be an immediate reduction in port charges ranging from 70% to 60%, which will give substantial relief to the cruise industry in India, in line with the government policy to support the economy in COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Shri MansukhMandaviya, Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) said “It will be a big support for the cruise tourism in India, which has suffered tremendously due to the adverse economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide the opportunity to earn huge amount of foreign exchange and generate sizeable direct and indirect onshore employment in cruise tourism sector of India”