Corona News Update of PIB Bulletin of 13th July 2020

Like daily, the government has updated the Corona virus report on the website of Press Information Bureau. Corona’s recovery rate has increased to 63.02% according to today’s report. India has more than 5.5 lakh Recovered Cases, exceeding Active Cases by more than 2.5 lakhs. 30 State have a lower Fatality Rate than the National average of 2.64%. Testing per Million is more than 8555. PM Interacts with Google CEO Sundar Pichai; Google appreciates PM’s leadership in the battle against the pandemic in India.

PIB Headquarters

13 JUL 2020

The series of pro-active, pre-emptive and coordinated steps taken by the Centre and the State governments for containment and prevention of COVID-19 has contributed to a gradual surge in COVID-19 recovery. There has been recovery of 18,850 people in the last 24 hours, taking the total cumulative number of recovered cases among COVID-19 patients to 5,53,470. The recovery rate has further improved to 63.02% today. 19 States have a recovery rate higher than the national average. There are 3,01,609 active cases and they are all under medical supervision either in hospitals, COVID care centres or in home isolation. There are 2,51,861 more recovered cases than active cases. India’s fatality rate has also dropped to 2.64% owing to the enhanced stress on clinical management of critical cases. 30 States have a fatality rate lower than the national average. During the last 24 hours, 2,19,103 samples were tested. The cumulative number of samples tested, as of now is 1,18,06,256. The testing per million is continuously growing. It is 8555.25 today.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with Google CEO Shri Sundar Pichai via video conferencing earlier today. Shri Pichai briefed the Prime Minister about the efforts undertaken by Google to help spread awareness and provide reliable information about COVID-19. He said that the strong step of Lockdown initiated by the Prime Minister set up a very strong foundation of India’s battle against the pandemic. Prime Minister appreciated the proactive role played by Google in battling misinformation and conveying information about necessary precautions. He also talked about further leveraging technology in providing healthcare services. Prime Minister was briefed about Google’s plan to launch a large investment fund and develop strategic partnerships in India. Prime Minister remarked that India is amongst the most open economies in the world.

Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilisers Shri DV Sadananda Gowda has said that Department of Pharmaceuticals is finalizing guidelines which will form basis for objectively selecting locations of upcoming three bulk drugs parks and four medical devices parks in the country. The scheme for promotion of bulk drug park is expected to result in incremental production of bulk drugs worth about Rs 46,400 crore, while scheme for promotion of medical device park will lead to incremental production of medical devices worth about Rs 68,437 crore. These schemes will also result in significant generation of jobs.

The 15th Finance Commission today held a meeting with the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and senior officials of Health Ministry on the specific issues of Revising the State Specific proposals of the Mnistry in light of the COVID-19 experience; Exploring the possibility of back loading in the light of fiscal strain; and Consideration of the suggestions of the High Level Group of the XVFC on health by the Ministry. Initiating the meeting the Chairman, XVFC, Shri N. K. Singh announced that looking at the peculiar state of the pandemic, the Commission has decided to have a separate Chapter on Health in its final Report. The Ministry in a detailed presentation to the Commission highlighted the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 targets which include: Increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP, in a progressive manner, by 2025; Primary Health Expenditure to be 2/3rd of the total health expenditure; and Increase State sector health spending to more than 8% of their budget by 2020.

NITI Aayog presented India’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, 2020. The HLPF is the foremost international platform for follow-up and review of progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, presented the VNR. In his opening remarks, Dr Rajiv Kumar expressed his solidarity with all the countries which were grappling with challenges brought about by the pandemic, while highlighting the key features of India’s response to the pandemic under the Aatam Nirbhar Bharat campaign. In his statement the Vice Chairman said, “We should all obliterate all divisions and distinctions amongst us and come together to try and convert the prevailing situation into an opportunity for accelerating our progress towards achieving the SDG targets’’.

Covid-19 has changed the world but Indian people, businesses and industries did not succumb to the crisis, and stood out with a unique trait of resilience and constantly evolving the new ways to deal with the situation and turning the crisis into opportunity, said Union Minister for Commerce and Industry & Railways, Piyush Goyal in New Delhi today. He added that before Covid and After Covid worlds will be different and we are preparing moving for the better post-covid world .

Ministry of Railways, with a goal of transforming Indian Railways into Green Railways by 2030 has taken a number of major initiatives towards mitigation of global warming and combating climate change. Railway Electrification, improving energy efficiency of locomotives & trains and fixed installations, green certification for installations/stations, fitting bio toilets in coaches and switching to renewable sources of energy are parts of its strategy of achieving net zero carbon emission. Indian Railways has completed electrification of more than 40,000 Route km (RKM) (63% of BG routes. 365 km major connectivity work has been commissioned during COVID period. Major connectivity commissioned during COVID period like Katni-Satna section (99 RKM) of Mumbai-Howrah via Allahabad route has been commissioned providing an alternate route to Howrah. Likewise, Pachore-Maksi (88 RKM) section on Indore – Guna-Bina route has also been commissioned providing an alternate route to Maksi-Bhopal-Bina.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Government has extended relief to gems and jewellery sector by relaxing the requirement of re-import of cut and polished diamonds, which have been sent abroad for certification and grading, by three months. This extension shall apply to all cut and polished diamonds that should have been re-imported between 1st Feb. 2020 to 31st July 2020 but which could not be brought back due to disruption on account of COVID-19 pandemic situation. The re-import in the extended period would be without payment of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and IGST. This facility is available to exporters with average annual export turnover of Rs. 5 crore for the last three years.

South Eastern Railway (SER) Bharat Scouts & Guides played a crucial role in providing services to the needy community people during the lockdowns in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Ever since the lockdown was imposed, SER Bharat Scouts & Guides distributed 76,821 cooked and 3,16,084 dry ration packets comprising rice, pulses, spices, onions, potatoes, soya beans, garlic, edible oil etc. to the helpless and needy people in the vicinity of railway areas all over its jurisdiction. When people dared not to come outside their homes, the Rangers, Rovers and other young Scouts & Guides of SER assisted the downtrodden and poorer sections of the society. They also produced and distributed 25,876 face masks amongst the helpless and poor people to contain the spread of COVID-19.

• Kerala:  One more Covid death has been reported in the state, taking the death toll to 32; the deceased is a 71 year old male under treatment at Kottayam MC and his source of infection is yet to be known. One person under observation in Wayanad also died. His swab test report is awaited.  Triple lockdown has come into force in the critical containment zones in the coastal areas from today till July 23. Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma said the government is considering to clamp lockdown in the entire coastal areas to contain the spread of the pandemic. Fisher folks would be permitted to venture into the sea for fishing. Meanwhile, as many as 2680 expatriates will arrive in Kochi in 13 flights under Vande Bharat mission. A total of 435 cases were reported yesterday of which 206 were infected through contact. 3,743 patients are still undergoing treatment.
• Tamil Nadu: Puducherry reports 50 new Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 1,468. Puducherry Health Minister seeks MLAs’ involvement to test people in ‘vulnerable’ areas. TN’s Vellore district tally crosses 3000, officials step up fever surveillance; so far 3131 cases and 25 deaths have been reported in the district. 72 police personnel re-join duty in Chennai after recovering from Covid-19. 4244 new cases & 68 deaths reported yesterday in TN. Total cases: 1,38,470; Active cases: 46,969; Deaths: 1966; Active cases in Chennai: 17,469.
• Karnataka: CM today conducted video conference with all DCs, CEOs and SPs on containing of Covid. In the meeting most of DCs expressed opinion to impose lockdown in the districts to control corona. Already Dharwad and Dakshin Kannada districts DCs announced one week lockdown starting from July 15. State government is planning more Covid Care Centers in hotels and apartment complexes. BBMP has decided to double down its efforts at contract tracing and enforcing home quarantine norms. 2627 new cases & 71 deaths reported yesterday; 1525 cases in Bangalore city. Total positive cases: 38,843; Active cases: 22,746; Deaths: 684.
• Andhra Pradesh:  State health and medical department has asked concerned district authorities to test corona suspects by using rapid antigen kits. Each district has been provided with 20K rapid antigen test kits. Following the death of a senior video journalist working in a Telugu news channel in Tirupati on Sunday due to Covid, the district I&PR department organised Covid testing to scribes today. With the rise in number of coronavirus cases traders in Gollapudi (Vijayawada) wholesale market, voluntarily implementing lockdown for a week from today. 1933 new cases and 19 deaths reported yesterday. Total cases: 29,168; Active cases: 13,428; Deaths: 328.
• Telangana: Analysis of the clinical trials registry at ICMR’s National Institute of Medical Statistics reveals more number of clinical trials of Covid-19 drug in progress by AYUSH, leaving behind those in Allopathy in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Total cases reported till yesterday: 34,671; Active cases: 11,883; Deaths 356; Discharges: 22,482.
• Haryana:  Haryana Chief Minister, while speaking during a webinar ‘YuvaManthan with MukhyaMantri’ – a professional talk on the theme of ‘COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities’, has urged Youth of the state that they should not let the uncertainties arising due to COVID-19 Pandemic overpower their enthusiasm and the zeal in their lives. The Chief Minister said that in order to ensure that students studying in various institutions do not suffer academically during COVID-19, as many as 70 lakh students have been facilitated through online classes and distance education through television in the state.
• Maharashtra: 7,827 new patients have been identified as positive in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours. Total count of COVID19 patients in the state stands at 2,54,427.  Out of this, a total 1,40,325 patients have been cured  and discharged from the hospitals in the state till date. Total deaths in the state as on Sunday is 10,116 which is the highest compared to any other state. Total active cases are 91,457.  Pune will be going into lockdown from midnight tonight till 23rd July. In Mumbai, 1,263 new patients have been identified taking the city’s overall number to 92,720. Doubling rate of Mumbai is now 50 days and recovery rate is 70% both higher than the state average.
• Gujarat: The state has recorded 879 new cases of Covid19 during the last 24 hours and the total active cases as on Sunday is 10,613. The total death toll in the state up to 2045. Also, 513 patients have been discharged after recovery during the last 24 hours.  With this, the total patients recovered from the Covid19 have gone up to 29,162. Ahmedabad’s successful Dhanvanatari Raths initiative is being widely appreciated. These Raths have successfully conducted over five lakhs OPD consultations in Ahmedabad so far.
• Rajasthan: The COVID-19 tally of the state has gone up to 24,370, with the reporting of 95 new positive cases. There are 514 deaths so far (as of today morning 10:30 AM). A total of 10,54,080 samples have been collected for testing. 18,123 people have recovered so far whereas 17,754 people have been discharged. Total number of recoveries in the state is 17,238.
• Madhya Pradesh: 431 new cases reported in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. This takes the state tally to 17,632. While the number of active cases is 4,103, total recoveries till date are 12,876. Maximum cases were reported on Sunday from Bhopal (95) cases, followed by Indore (84 cases), Jabalpur (24 cases) and Barwani (20 cases). Hotspot Indore’s COVID-19 tally stands at 5260, while capital city Bhopal’s tally so far is 3502 cases.
• Chhattisgarh: 150 new positive cases have been identified on Sunday, which takes the state tally of COVID-19 to 4081. The number of active cases is 909. With the discharge after recovery of 83 patients on Sunday, the total recoveries stand at 3,153. Raipur reported 96 of the new cases.
• Goa: 85 new persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. It takes the state tally of corona virus infections to 2453. Also, 2 deaths have been reported on Saturday. The death toll in the state has gone up to 14. This apart, 59 patients have recovered on the same day. This takes the count of recovered patients in Goa to 1487. As per the latest report, there are 952 active cases in the state.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Totally 31,520 samples collected for Covid-19 test in Arunachal Pradesh. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases stands at 219 in the state while results of 1657 samples are awaited. Police force deployed at various check points in Capital Complex of Itanagar to curtail unnecessary movement on the streets.
• Assam: The CM of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced three new schemes amounting to Rs. 25 Crore to check erosion activities in Rohmoria, Dibrugarh today.
• Manipur: State Bank of India’s Regional Office at Imphal donated 350 PPE & 3 Ventilators to the CM at the CM’s office in Manipur today.
• Nagaland: Kohima district administration demarcates some areas under upper AG colony as sealed zones following the detection of a COVID 19 positive person.
• Mizoram:  Mizoram Board of School Education to announce HSSLC and HSLC (Compartmental) results tomorrow.
• Sikkim: District wise tabulation of Covid-19 positive cases in Sikkim are as follows: East district – 88; West District – 22;  South district 42; North District – 2 ; Total number of positive cases in the State stands at 153 .