COVID UPDATE on 03rd November: Active Cases have fallen under 5.5 lakhs

India has achieved several significant milestones in its fight against COVID. The new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours have fallen under 40,000. The daily new cases stand at 38,310 after 15 weeks (105 days). The new added cases were 37,724 on 22nd July, 2020.In another achievement, the active cases have drastically declined below 5.5 lakh. The total positive cases of the country are 5,41,405 and now comprise merely 6.55% of the total cases.The slide in the active cases in supplemented by an exponential rise in the recoveries. The total recovered cases have crossed 76 lakhs (76,03,121).The gap between active cases and recovered cases has crossed 70 lakh today and stands at 70,61,716.58,323 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours. The national Recovery Rate has further escalated to 91.96%.80% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States/UTs.Maharashtra is leading with more than 10,000 single day recoveries followed by Karnataka with more than 8,000 recoveries.74% of the new confirmed cases are from 10 States and UTs.Kerala, Delhi and Maharashtra have contributed the maximum to the new cases with more than 4,000 cases. West Bengal follows with more than 3,000 new cases.490 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. Of these, nearly 80% are concentrated in ten States/UTs. Maharashtra has reported maximum single day deaths (104 deaths).India’s case Fatality Rate stands at 1.49%.

 

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) is organizing a webinar on 5th November 2020 in association with Western Sydney University on the theme “Yoga and Ayurveda Medicine for Mental Wellness”. The webinar is a collaborative activity focused on the opportunities for mental wellness through the strengths of Ayurveda and Yoga. This is expected to bring together the leading researchers in Yoga and Ayurveda from India, Australia, Italy, and Germany, and provide inputs through current international research. This will further promote international collaborations in scientific research related to Yoga and Ayurveda.

There have been several media reports alluding to steep increase in service charges by certain Public Sector Banks (PSBs). In this context, the factual position is as follows:  Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts including Jan Dhan accounts – No service charge is applicable on the 60.04 crore BSBD accounts, including 41.13 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened by the poor and unbanked segments of society, for the free services prescribed by RBI. Regular Savings accounts, Current Accounts, Cash credit accounts & Overdraft accounts- In this regard, while the charges have not been increased, Bank of Baroda had made certain changes w.e.f. 1st November, 2020, with regard to the number of free cash deposits and withdrawals per month. The number of free cash deposits and withdrawals, have been reduced from 5 each per month to 3 each per month, with no change in the charges for transactions in excess of these free transactions. Bank of Baroda has since informed that in the light of the current COVID related situation, they have decided to withdraw the changes. Further, no other PSB has increased such charges recently.

To initiate the process of taking the country towards nutritional security, Department of Food & Public Distribution has been running a “Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice & its distribution through Public Distribution System”. The Pilot Scheme has been approved for a period of three years beginning 2019-2020 with a total budget outlay of Rs.174.6 Crore. Fifteen State Governments have identified their respective districts (1 district per state) for implementing the Pilot Scheme. Already 5 states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have started the distribution of fortified rice in their respective identified districts. In this connection, the Union Minister for Food & Consumer Affairs, Railways, Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal in his review meeting held on 31.10.2020, laid the emphasis on scaling up of the distribution of fortified rice in the country. A further meeting was also chaired by the Secretary, DFPD, on 02.11.2020, in which the FCI has been asked to come up with a comprehensive plan for procurement and distribution of fortified rice in all the Districts of the country under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) & Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme from 2021-2022. Special focus would be placed on supplying fortified rice to the 112 specially identified Aspirational Districts of the country.

Tele-Law has touched a new milestone on 30th October 2020 with 4 Lakh beneficiaries having received legal advice under this through CSCs (Common Service Centres). As against total 1.95 lakh advices given till April 2020 since the launch of the programme, 2.05 lakh advices have been enabled during the first seven months of this financial year. Embarking on the “Digital India Vision” of the Government of India, Department of Justice has been harnessing “emerging” and “indigenous” digital platforms to accelerate and make access to justice a reality for all. In meeting this objective, Tele-Law programme was launched in 2017 to address cases at pre–litigation stage. Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone /instant calling facilities available at the vast network of Common Service Centres at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.

The Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated a Webinar on “Economic Revival through Capital Markets post covid-19” today.While addressing the event Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi India will emerge as the global leader in post-Covid-19 world economy. He said that the preemptive steps taken by the Indian government in enforcing earliest lock down saved many lives and further damage to the Indian economy. The lock-down period has taught us many lessons of life and this adversity has emerged as a virtue for us.

A member of the support staff attached to the National Archery Team that was training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune has tested positive for the coronavirus. The concerned support staff member tested positive for the virus on October 30th. Concerned staff had tested negative before joining campers for training. Treatment for the support staff member is being undertaken at a special Covid care hospital in Pune outside the premises of ASI. The training camp was suspended for two days that is October 31 and November 1 and all precautions were taken with campers being isolated and restricted to their respective rooms for those two days. With due Covid precautions and monitoring of temperature, the camp has resumed with effect from November 2. SAI is getting RT-PCR test conducted for all National campers as per the protocol.

Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri DV Sadananda Gowda held a comprehensive review meeting of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanaushadhiPariyojana (PMBJP) in New Delhi today. PMBJP has achieved sales of Rs 358 crores (as against sale of Rs 433 crore in FY 2019) worth of pharma products through 6600 Jan Aushadhi stores during first seven months of this fiscal (up to Oct 31st ), and is likely to surpass sales of Rs 600 crore for entire fiscal year. During the meeting Shri Gowda congratulated BPPI Team for ensuring supply of medicines and other pharma products like masks to people at affordable rates during difficult times of covid-19.

• Maharashtra: Maharashtra recorded 4,008 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, but the day also saw 10,225 recoveriess bringing down the number of active cases to 1.18 lakhs.  Mumbai reported 706 new cases, which is the lowest in 69 days.  The rate of infection in the city has dropped from 1.06% to 0.49%,even as the state’s recovery rate has touched 90%.  The State Health Minister Rajesh Tope has opined that the second wave of Covid is unlikely, and mentioned that the state is well prepared for any eventuality.
• Gujarat: The Gujarat government on Monday eased a COVID-19 restriction related to wedding functions in open spaces and allowed up to 200 guests in place of the earlier limit of 100. As per the State Government order, the guests must wear masks and follow all norms, including social distancing.  However, the upper limit for guests at functions held in closed spaces like halls will be 50 per cent of capacity.
• Rajasthan: Rajasthan assembly has passed the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases (Amendments bill 2020) making it mandatory to wear masks. The bill prohibits the movements of any person in public place, public transport, workplace or at any Social, Political, general function or gathering without wearing a mask. The bill, however, does not specify the penalties if someone caught without masks. Meanwhile, number of COVID cases crossed 2 lakh in Rajasthan after 1,748 new cases reported yesterday. Active cases are 15,889.
• Chhattisgarh: About 15,000 health workers of the state have gone on a two-day ‘mass leave’ till Tuesday, to draw govt’s attention towards their demands. As a result, sample collection dropped to a little over 17,000 from daily average of 24,000.   The Health workers have been asking for an insurance cover of Rs50 lakh, Corona allowance, risk allowance and special allowance for risking their lives in the fight against Covid.
• Kerala: The Kerala Public Service Commission has decided to allot centers for the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) exam, to be held over two days, in all districts. The PSC meet arrived at the decision due to the Covid-19 crisis. The PSC will also request the government to set up at least one special center in a district for candidates who have been tested positive for Covid-19.  The state reported 4,138 Covid-19 cases yesterday. 21 deaths were also confirmed taking the death toll to 1533. Meanwhile, Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the IMF in an article has urged policymakers to provide more fiscal stimulus to boost the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as the global economy is in a liquidity trap.
• Tamil Nadu: TN govt issues directions to Sabarimala pilgrims; only those devotees, who produce a medical certificate that they were not infected by Coronavirus 48 hours before visiting Sabarimala, will be allowed to proceed to the shrine. The devotees can make use of paid medical centres near the entrance points to undergo Covid tests. Free textbooks distributed to govt school students; in a bid to ensure smooth flow of textbook distribution, Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation had already issued SOP including ensuring social distancing norms during the distribution. Following a dip in the number of new Covid cases reported every day in Coimbatore, the district administration is planning to withdraw some Covid care centres (CCC) that currently have minimum occupancy.
• Karnataka: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restarted the buses to Hyderabad which were stopped in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown. The State government is likely to take a final decision on the reopening of schools and pre-university colleges in the state by November 6, after holding a series of meetings spanning three days with stakeholders. More than 80 volunteers had been vaccinated as part of a trial under way at JSS Hospital in Mysuru to give a booster dose of BCG to the elderly to prevent Covid-19-related morbidity and mortality.
• Andhra Pradesh: 98% schools reopen in Andhra Pradesh, attendance below 45%.First day after reopening of the schools on November 2, five positive cases were reported when officials conducted Covid tests at Nandavaram in Marripadu Mandal and Pathavellanti in rural mandal of Nellore district. In Prakasam district of Hanumanthunipadu zone, headmaster of Gollapalli School has been tested positive for coronavirus.  The district authorities are conducting tests on teachers and students of the school. After a gap of over seven months, inter-state bus services between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana resumed from Monday as SRTC officials of both the states came to an understanding and signed a MoU plying of buses following unlockdown measures for public transport.
• Telangana: 1536 new cases, 1421 recoveries & 3 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; out of 1536 cases, 281 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 2,42,506; Active cases: 17,742; Deaths: 1351; Discharges: 2,23,413 with recovery rate of 92.12 per cent. Polling in the Dubbak bye-election has picked up momentum around lunch hour and it stood at 71 per cent at 3 pm on Tuesday indicating a huge poll percentage.
• Arunachal Pradesh: One more covid patient died in the state, now total death toll touches to 38. 117 new positive cases detected in the state during last twenty four hours. Currently 1722 active positive cases in the state.
• Assam:  In the last 24 hours 465 cases detected out of 30334 tests conducted with positivity rate of 1.53% in Assam. The COVID tally reached to 206982 while 197566 were discharged till date.
• Meghalaya: Meghalaya registered 71 new covid cases and 117 new recoveries.
• Mizoram: 35 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Mizoram yesterday. Total cases reached to 2792 and active cases stands at 444. Lockdown extended in Aizawl till November 9.
• Nagaland: Out of Nagaland’s 1363 active cases, 1296 cases are asymptomatic, 42 are mild, 12 moderate, 6 severe, in ICU & 1 active case on ventilator.

*****

Source: PIB