Covid-19 Bulletin: UGC guidelines, focus on agriculture, AarogyaSetu App on 8 crore cellphones and more Corona News..
CSIR Labs are providing ready to eat food to migrant labourers, patients, health workers, police and many others during the Covid19 outbreak.
New Delhi: With 8,324 people having been cured out of 33,050 confirmed Covid-19 cases, recovery rate has improved to 25.19%. The doubling rate of Corona cases has also improved to 11 days.
In another positive development in fight against Corona, more than 8 people have downloaded Aarogya Set app on their mobile phones till now. The intensity of App reach augurs well for tackling the pandemic.
Updates on COVID-19 from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
So far, a total of 8,324 people have been cured. This takes our total recovery rate to 25.19%. The total number of confirmed cases is now 33,050. Since yesterday, an increase of 1718 has been noted in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in India.Analysis of doubling rate across the country has revealed that the national average is 11 days presently vis-a-vis 3.4 days before lockdown. So far, it is observed that the case fatality rate is 3.2%, of which 65% are male and 35% are female.Dr. Harsh Vardhan has written to the Health Ministers of all the States/UTs to ensure assured and uninterrupted blood donation and transfusion services for people with blood disorders. States are also advised to ensure that all health facilities, especially in the private sector, remain functional and provide critical services
PM Modi holds meeting to discuss strategies on boosting investment
PM Narendra Modi today held a comprehensive meeting to discuss strategies to attract more foreign investments into India as well as to promote local investments in order to give a boost to the economy against the backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was discussed that a scheme should be developed to promote more plug and play infrastructure in the existing industrial lands/plots/estates in the country and provide necessary financing support. During the meeting, the PM directed that the action should be taken for a more proactive approach to handhold the investors, to look into their problems and help them in getting all the necessary Central and State clearances in a time bound manner.
MHA holds Comprehensive Review Meeting on Lockdown situation
Ministry of Home Affairs held a comprehensive review meeting on the lockdown situation.It was noted that there have been tremendous gains and improvement in the situation because of the lockdown till now. To ensure that the gains of the lockdown are not squandered away, the lockdown guidelines must be observed strictly till 3rd May.New guidelines to fight COVID-19 will come into effect from 4th May, which would give considerable relaxations to many districts. Details regarding this would be communicated in the days to come.
UGC Guideline on Examinations & Academic Calendar for Universities
Following are the main recommendations in the guidelines issued by UGC:
1. Intermediate Semester Students: Will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in the month of July.
2. Terminal Semester Students: exams will be held in the month of July.
3. A COVID-19 cek8ll will be constituted in every university which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations.
4. A COVID-19 cell in the UGC to be created for faster decision making.
Highest priority to agriculture sector
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said the Government has accorded highest priority to the farming and agriculture sector even during the lockdown period. As a result, he said, there has been no shortage of food grains and pulses across the country while the Government has also ensured availability of vegetables and milksupplies.
411 Lifeline Udan flights operated till date for medical supplies
411 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. Cargo transported by Lifeline Udan flights till date is around 776.73 tons, covering over 4,04,224 km. ‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are being operated by MoCA in domestic Sector to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19. Helicopter services including Pawan Hans Ltd have been operating in J&K, Ladakh, Islands and North East region transporting critical medical cargo and patients. Pawan Hans till 28th April 2020 have carried 2.0 tons of cargo covering a distance of 7,257 kms.
AarogyaSetu app has reach of 8 crore mobile phones
Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad exhorted the Electronics Industry to explore the new opportunities that are arising out of the adversity and make the country the global hub of electronics manufacturing. During a meeting with Electronics Industry Associations, Chambers and prominent Industry players, he requested the electronics industry to take advantage of the opportunity and new Schemes notified by the Ministry, attract global investment and strengthen the sector. He emphasized the role of Medical Electronics Industry that is at a point of a complete turnaround.
Indian Railways distributes free meals to 3 million people
Meals distributed during lockdown due to COVID-19 at approximately 300 locations across the country. Indian Railway organizations team up to feed hot cooked meals and hope to thousands of people everyday
Auto barons praise PM Modi’s leadership in dealing with Covid-19
Union Minister for heavy industries and public enterprises, ShriPrakashJavadekar today convened a meeting with a group of select CEOs of the Indian Automobile Industry, to understand the possible impact of COVID-19 on the Indian Automobile sector and listen to suggestions from the Industry on possible policy interventions to minimise the impact.
Advisory soon on saving Interest of Home buyers & Real Estate Stakeholders
An urgent meeting of Central Advisory Councilconstituted under the RERA was held through webinar under the chairmanship of Sh. Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of State (I/c), MoHUA to discuss the impact of the pandemic COVID-19 and consequent nationwide lockdown on the real estate sector and to treat it as an event of ‘Force Majeure’ under the provisions of RERA. fter detailed deliberations, the Housing Minister assured all the participants that the matter will be considered keeping in view the interests of all stakeholders. He further said that MoHUA will soon issue an advisory to all RERA/States about the special measures that need to be taken to safeguard the interest of homebuyers and all other real estate industry stakeholders.
“JanaushadhiSugam” Mobile App to access Janaushadhikendras
Amid nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 crisis JanaushadhiSugam Mobile App is helping people in a big way to locate their nearest PradhanMantriJanaushadhi Kendra (PMJAK) and availability of affordable generic medicine with its price. Over 325000 people are using JanaushadhiSugam Mobile App to avail the host of benefits provided by it.
CSIR labs provide food, masks & sanitisers
CSIR Labs such as CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad and CSIR-IIP, Dehradun have provided ready to eat food to migrant labourers, patients, health workers, police and many others during the Covid19 outbreak.