COVID UPDATE on 04th November: National Recovery Rate has Surpassed 92%

With a high number of COVID patients recovering every day and the sustained fall in the mortality rate, India’s steady trend of registering dipping active cases continues. The active caseload is sustained below the 6L mark for the sixth successive day today. India’s active caseload stands at 5,33,787 today. Presently the active cases comprise merely 6.42% of the total positive cases of the country. 16 States & UTs have cases per million lower than the national average.  The total recovered cases are more than 76.5 Lakhs (76,56,478) thereby enhancing the difference with respect to the active cases. In another achievement, the national Recovery Rate has surpassed 92% (92.09%). 53,357 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours whereas the new confirmed cases stand at 46,253. 17 States/UTs have Recovery Rate more than the national average. The country’s testing capacities have expanded rapidly. The cumulative tests are nearly 11.3 crore (11,29,98,959) today. 12,09,609 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. 25 States/UTs have better tests per million than the national average. 80% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States/UTs .Kerala is leading with more than 8,000 single day recoveries followed by Karnataka with more than 7,000 recoveries. 76% of the new confirmed cases are from 10 States and UTs. Kerala and Delhi have contributed the maximum to the new cases with more than 6,000 cases each. Maharashtra follows with more than 4,000 new cases. 514 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours.Of these, nearly 80% are concentrated in ten States/UTs. Maharashtra has reported the maximum single day deaths (120 deaths). India’s Case Fatality Rate stands at 1.49%. 21 States and UTs have deaths per million lower than the national average.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. The MoU covers the areas of cooperation including  Exchange and training of medical doctors and other health professionals; Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; Exchange of information regarding regulation of pharmaceutical, medical devices and cosmetics; Sharing expertise for vulnerability assessment for health of citizens against climate risk and public health actions targeted towards mitigation and adaptation; Sharing of expertise for facilitating climate resilient infrastructure as well as providing support for development of ‘Green Healthcare’ (climate resilient hospitals); Promote mutual research in various relevant areas; and any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UK MHRA) on cooperation in the field of medical Product Regulation. The MoU will help in establishing a framework for fruitful cooperation and exchange of information between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UKMHRA) of United Kingdom in matters relating to Medical products regulation in line with their international responsibilities.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) on 5th November, 2020. The VGIR is being organized by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. It is an exclusive dialogue between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision makers from the Government of India and Financial Market Regulators. Union Finance Minister, Union Minister of State for Finance, RBI Governor and other dignitaries will also be present on the occasion. The Roundtable will witness participation from twenty of the world’s largest pension and sovereign wealth funds with a total Assets Under Management of about US$6 trillion. These global institutional investors represent key regions including the US, Europe, Canada, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Australia, and Singapore. Event will witness participation of key decision makers of these funds, i.e., the CEOs and CIOs. Some of these investors would also be engaging for the first time with the Government of India. Apart from global investors, the Roundtable will also see participation of several top Indian Business Leaders.

Six women led startups have won COVID-19 Shri Shakti Challenge organized by MyGov in collaboration with UN Women. With an objective to encourage and involve women led startups to come up with innovative solutions that can help in the fight against COVID19 or solve problems that impact a large number of women, MyGov in collaboration with UN Women, launched the COVID-19 Shri Shakti Challenge in April 2020. This was a unique challenge hosted on the Innovate platform of MyGov that called for applications from women led startups as well as startups who have solutions that address issues faced by a larger number of women. The Challenge was implemented in two stages: Ideation stage and Proof of Concept (PoC) Stage. The challenge received an overwhelming response with a total of 1265 entries, from across the nation.

Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today inaugurated a 10-Bedded Make Shift Hospital and isolation centre set up by CSIR at 4th Battalion Centre, Chennai, through video-conference.Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan congratulated CSIR-SERC (Structural Engineering Research Centre) and its scientists as well as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for finding innovative solutions to meet new challenges like the one presented by COVID-19. He pointed out, “The new facility at 4th Battalion Centre, NDRF, Chennai is designed as a make-shift hospital solution for the patient to provide primary health facility with safety, security and a comfortable living environment and has a long life span of up to 20 years”. “It demonstrates a modern, durable, fast installable, safe and geographically as well as all-weather compatible fast deployable technology useful for disaster recovery as well as long pandemic or emergency situation”, he added. “The CSIR-SERC laboratory introduced a foldable and framed steel structure, such that a single person can carry a couple of frames on his shoulder and assemble these at any site without much loss of time”, the Minister pointed out.

• Maharashtra:  Even as Maharashtra continues to account for a bulk of India’s Covid-19 caseload, the number of new cases have nearly halved over the past 15 days and the fatalities, too, are getting fewer. Government officials and health experts have said that the reasons for this drop in cases and deaths are multifactorial — consequence of targeted testing over the past few months, a large part of the population being already exposed to the virus, its possible weakening, and a gradual unlocking process.  Experts have warned that Covid-19 cases may spike in January due to combined effect of winter, Diwali, and more people coming into each others’ contact as establishments reopen, and hence it is too early to celebrate.  The current level of active cases in Maharashtra is 1.16 lakhs.
• Gujarat:  Gujarat recorded 954 new cases during the last 24 hours. Recovery rate of the state has reached up to 90.78 percent. Gujarat has recorded a total 1,75,633 cases till now. The number of active cases is 12,451. Meanwhile, Gujarat government has said that following reduction in Covid19 cases, the demand of medical oxygen and life saving drugs have been reduced considerably in the state.
• Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, active cases in the state have increased for the third consecutive day. After taking a significant dip between October 13 and October 31 when it came down to 15,102 from 21,924 (peak), active cases have started increasing again and touched 16,385 on Tuesday.  The state reported 1,725 new cases and 10 deaths during the past 24 hours.
• Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh’s COVID-19 case count rose to 1,92 laksh on Tuesday after 1,724 people tested positive for the viral infection. Raipur district reported 143 new cases, taking its total count to 41,726, including 611 deaths. Korba district recorded 219 new cases, Raigarh 190, Janjgir-Champa 182, Durg 140 and Balod 101, among other districts, the official said.
• Assam: In Assam, 379 more people tested positive for COVID-19 and 473 patients discharged yesterday. Total cases 207361, recovered 198039, active 8385 and death 934.
• Meghalaya: In Meghalaya, 63 more people tested positive for COVID-19. Total active cases 971 and total recovered cases 8680.
• Mizoram: In Mizoram, 101 more people tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. Total cases 2893 and active cases 516.
• Nagaland: In Nagaland, 55 new COVID-19 cases detected yesterday, 39 are from Dimapur, 13 from Kohima, 2 in Mon and 1 in Peren.
• Sikkim: In Sikkim, 62 more people tested positive for COVID-19, active cases 254, total discharged 3657 and total cases 4067.
• Kerala: The online bookings for the virtual queue for the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season in the hill shrine of Sabarimala were closed in just two days. The temple will be open for the pilgrimage on 15th November. The state government meantime has stated that it will reconsider its decision to allow only 1,000 pilgrims daily. CPI(M) leader and State Youth Welfare Board Vice Chairman P. Biju died this morning during post Covid-19 treatment in the state capital. He was 43. Biju who was tested positive for Covid last month had been under treatment at Trivandrum Medical College. Kerala saw a slight dip in Covid cases with 6,862 Covid-19 cases being reported yesterday. 26 deaths were also confirmed taking the Covid death toll to 1559.
• Tamil Nadu: No inter-state buses this year from Tamil Nadu; as many as 9,510 buses will be operated from Chennai to various parts of the State between November 11 and 13 to help commuters during Deepavali. Health Minister C Vijayabaskar requests people to adhere to the Covid protocols ahead of the festive and winter season. As states ban crackers, Sivakasi workers stare at a dark Deepavali; already reeling under the impact of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, these families are now staring at abject poverty, if the sale of crackers is not up to the mark.
• Karnataka: Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday released first ever sero survey report. In the report it is found that 16.4% people were infected in the past found to have IgG antibodies against SARS Cov 2; 16,584 samples were collected for the survey. Education Minister Suresh Kumar started three days meeting with DDPIs on re opening of schools. State government releases 449cr for dry ration kits to government school children. Highcourt asks BBMP to explain norms enforced for disposal of materials used by covid patients.
• Andhra Pradesh: Post reopening of schools on November 2, corona cases are coming to light in various parts of the state. Teachers and students in four Zilla Parishad schools in Prakasam district reported infected with the virus. Students and parents are worried as new cases are being reported all at once.  The Commissioner of Education is collecting the details of students and teachers attending the schools for taking necessary measures soon. Students’ attendance remains low in West Godavari district, despite the government opening schools taking all precautionary measures as 8 school students in Kamavarapukota zone of East Yedavally and 27 students in Vizianagaram district studying in classes 9 and 10 tested positive for the corona virus.
• Telangana: 1637 new cases, 1273 recoveries & 6 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; out of 1637 cases, 292 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 2,44,143; Active cases: 18,100; Deaths: 1357; Discharges: 2,24,686 with recovery rate of 92.03 per cent. In an effort to help digitise the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Telangana, the State government is launching an initiative to give out free licenses of a cloud-based business automation software to 20,000 companies.