At 90K a day, skyrocketing Covid-19 cases in India could eclipse US

Six months after the start of the pandemic-as the developed world tries to restore some semblance of normalcy-the virus is arriving with a vengeance in India’s vast hinterland

Current Affairs: The novel coronavirus seemed like a distant problem in Boisar, a small factory town about two hours from Mumbai, until Daniel Tribhuvan died. The 35-year-old tutor started feeling feverish in April, while bringing his father home from a chemotherapy appointment in the Indian financial capital. When a test confirmed Tribhuvan was infected, the local health system’s reaction was shambolic. After he checked into a public hospital, the first thing they did was try to pawn him off to a private facility in Mumbai.

The ambulance turned around halfway when they discovered he couldn’t pay. Back at the public hospital, a doctor didn’t see him for three days, and when an elderly man occupying a bed nearby died, his body wasn’t collected for 12 hours. After a week, Tribhuvan’s blood-oxygen levels were dangerously low. He died on May 17, becoming Boisar’s first confirmed fatality from Covid-19.

“I think he would have survived if the system was good,” Samuel Tribhuvan, Daniel’s older brother, said in a recent interview at Boisar’s local administrative office, inside a rundown building that also houses a liquor store and a portrait studio. “This is the worst place where we could get the coronavirus.”..

Covid-19 Factoid: India doubled case count in 29 days, fastest in the world

Total number of cases cross the 1 million mark in Russia while Jharkhand sees a fresh surge in new cases

The global confirmed case count is now at 25.7 million, with 6.8 active cases. More than 856,000 people have lost their lives in the pandemic globally. Roughly 5 per cent of all closed cases in the world have ended up as a fatality. In India, there are now over 3.7 million cases, with 785,996 cases, or roughly 21.2 per cent of the total count. Recovery rate is now at 76.9 per cent. At more than 65,000 deaths, the country’s death rate is now at 1.7 per cent, a marginal decline from 1.8 last week. India’s daily new cases are the biggest contributor to the global tally of confirmed cases.

Here are some data points on the outbreak:

1. India is the worst-performing country in the world

India took just 29 days to double its confirmed cases tally, becoming the fastest country to attain this unfortunate feat in the world. It is followed by Colombia and South Africa. Among the top 10 countries that took the shortest time to double its case count, four -Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Chile- are located in South America.

2. Russia is the latest country to cross 1 million cases

Russia is now the fourth country in the world to report over 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus. However, it took a significantly higher amount of time to reach this milestone, trailing behind India by 46 days. The US was the fastest country to witness its case count rise to 1 million, at just 98 days…Read More

Centre provides over 3 cr masks, 1.28 cr PPEs, 10 cr HCQs to states, UTs

Along with augmenting the Covid-19 facilities, the Centre is also providing medical supplies to the states and Union territories for free

The government has distributed more than 3.04 crore N95 masks and over 1.28 crore personal protection equipment (PPE) kits among the states, Union territories and central institutions for free since March 11, the health ministry said on Thursday. Also, more than 10.83 crore hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets have been distributed among them, it added.

In addition, 22,533 “Make in India” ventilators have been delivered to various states, Union territories and central institutions, the ministry said, adding that the Centre is also ensuring the installation and commissioning of the machines. The central role of the government has been in strengthening the health infrastructure of the states and Union territories to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure its effective management, the ministry underlined.

ALSO READ: LIVE updates: PM Modi unveils ‘fundamental reforms’ for taxpayers

Along with augmenting the Covid-19 facilities, the Centre is also providing medical supplies to the states and Union territories for free. “Most of the products supplied by the Government of India were not being manufactured in the country in the beginning. The rising global demand due to the pandemic resulted in their scarce availability in the foreign markets,” the ministry said…Read More

Customs department asked to dispose of hazardous goods after Beirut blasts

Revenue department sends letter after report last week 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was lying in storage near Chennai.

The Customs department must ensure “hazardous, explosive” goods lying in stores are disposed of safely, the revenue department has said after a devastating explosion on Friday killed more than a 100 people in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

The department started a safety campaign Tuesday to dispose of “un-claimed/un-cleared/seized/confiscated goods” by August l. It was launched after reports last week that 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate—the explosive material in the Beirut blasts–were stored in a Container Freight Station (CFS) near Chennai. Customs seized the material in 2015 after the company importing it failed to show a licence. A letter signed by Kevin Boban, Officer on Special Duty (Customs) at the Central Board of Indirect Taxes, was sent to all the Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs/ Custom (Preventive, Cental Tax and Customs on Monday.

“Expeditious disposal of goods that are of hazardous or explosive nature is especially necessary to prevent any damage to life and property that may arise. Needless to state, till the un-claimed/un-cleared/seized/confiscated goods are disposed as per law, they need to be kept securely and safely in accordance with all extant instructions,” said the letter. The revenue department asked the Commissioner of Customs to work with the Pollution Control Board or fire safety departments to ensure safe storage and handling of hazardous and explosive materials in a Customs area.

Maggi noodles to chyawanprash: What India has been spending on in pandemic

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity. In India, that often means ayurveda, the country’s ancient system of medicine. Companies such as Dabur India Ltd. and The Himalaya Drug Co. are witnessing high demand for traditional products like chyawanprash (a cooked mixture containing honey, sugar, ghee, herbs and spices) and proprietary supplements like Septilin, which combines ayurvedic ingredients including licorice and guduchi.

Here are a few of the products shoppers in the world’s biggest open consumer market have been stocking up on.

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity. In India, that often means ayurveda, the country’s ancient system of medicine. Companies such as Dabur India Ltd. and The Himalaya Drug Co. are witnessing high demand for traditional products like chyawanprash (a cooked mixture containing honey, sugar, ghee, herbs and spices) and proprietary supplements like Septilin, which combines ayurvedic ingredients including licorice and guduchi.

Immunity Boosters

Chyawanprash sales across the industry grew 283% in June and branded honey rose 39%, according to Nielsen Holdings Plc. Dabur, one of India’s largest ayurvedic products suppliers, said its chyawanprash sales surged 700% from April to June. The surge in spending is likely to last well beyond the next few months, according to Sameer Shukla, west market leader at Nielsen South Asia. “We saw very clear trends in terms of consumer ask — people would like to spend more on immunity boosters, health hygiene and stuff like that,” Shukla said. “This kind of ask is not a short-term one.”

Covid-19: Are India, others testing enough to get a true measure of spread?

Business Standard takes a look at daily and total tests done by all Indian states and 10 most affected countries globally

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally reached 13,236,249 on Tuesday, according to Worldometer. However, this number represents only the status of infection as captured through testing, as only lab-confirmed infections are counted as confirmed cases. This implies the true extent of the coronavirus pandemic’s spread could only be gauged by testing a lot.

In the words of World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the world needs to "Test, test, test. Test every suspected case". The WHO chief had suggested on March 16 that testing was the only way to understand the extent of the problem and find a solution. "You cannot fight a fire blindfolded," he had said...

Here's a look at how the 10 most affected countries by total cases are doing in terms of testing:

India’s coronavirus testing strategy

For detection of Covid-19, India is primarily using the real-time-polymerase chain reaction test method, more commonly known as RT-PCR and considered gold standard of frontline testing for the novel coronavirus. According to the American Society for Microbiology, the combination of excellent sensitivity and specificity, low contamination risk, and speed has made RT-PCR technology an appealing alternative to culture- or immunoassay-based testing methods for diagnosing many infectious diseases...Read More

Human trials for Covid-19 vaccine may begin in 6 months: ICMR Official

“The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine”

As India ranked 10th in the global infection list, overtaking Iran, which was an early hotspot of coronavirus, India’s top medical body has said the human trials of Covid-19 vaccine may begin at least in six months. Speaking to IANS, Dr. Rajni Kant, Director Regional Medical Research Centre and Head at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine, and this strain has been successfully transferred to the Bharat Biotech International Ltd. (BBIL). It is expected that the human trials of the vaccine will begin in at least six months.”

Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 145,456; global tally nears 5.6 million

Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.

Bengaluru airport introduces ‘contactless journey’ to contain Covid-19

According to the BIAL, the features include pre-entry process, where the passengers have to wear masks and carry e-boarding or printed passes

The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday. In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding.

“Contactless would be the buzzword at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru when operations resume from May 25,” the BIAL said in a statement on Sunday. With a greater emphasis on minimum touch and minimum exposure between passengers and airport personnel, BIAL aims to minimise all physical contact at the airport.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Global tally crosses 5.5-mn mark; India cases at 138,536

The technology will continue to enable a seamless airport journey, with greater emphasis on health and safety, the statement said. “We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the airport,” Hari Marar, managing director and chief executive officer of BIAL, said. “These enhancements demonstrate our continued commitment to keep our passengers safe in this environment.”

I am doing fine after taking a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine: Trump

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals

President Donald Trump says he’s doing fine after taking a two-week course of an unproven malaria drug for Covid-19. Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 138,845; Global tally crosses 5.5-mn mark

Speaking in an interview aired on the Sunday news program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, Trump said that “I just finished the course of drug treatments and to the best of my knowledge, here I am. If it’s something that helps, that’s all I want.”

Coronavirus : India records 100 deaths in a day, 66 from Tamil Nadu

India coronavirus LIVE updates: Maharashtra cases at 27,524, Tamil Nadu 9,674, Delhi 8,470. Stay tuned with Business Standard for Covid 19 LIVE updates on corona cases and death toll worldwide

Coronavirus India update: The total number of coronavirus cases in India has been rising constantly. The country now is just a whisker from overtaking China — from where the virus originated. India’s tally of cases now stands at 82,052 and 2,649 people have died of infections so far, according to Worldometer data. Maharashtra govt decides to extend lockdown in Mumbai MMR, PMC, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Solapur till May 31, according to media reports. Will Central extend the nationwide lockdown a third time beyond May 17? Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked chief ministers to submit their Lockdown 4.0 plan by today.

Finance Minister Sitharaman on Thursday unveiled her second tranche of stimulus worth Rs 3.16 trillion. The package includes free food grain for migrant workers, credit support to farmers and working capital loan for street vendors. coronavirus world update: Globally, 4,525,441 people have been infected by coronavirus so far, and the total number of deaths from the disease now stands at 303,372.

Coronavirus India update: Five states with most active cases

Maharashtra (20,446) Tamil Nadu (7,368) Delhi (5,310) Gujarat (5,252) Madhya Pradesh (2,018)

Coronavirus in US: Trump says he doesn’t want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties

US President Donald Trump signaled a further deterioration of his relationship with China over the novel coronavirus, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even cut ties with the world’s second largest economy. In an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Thursday, Trump said he was very disappointed with China’s failure to contain the disease and that the pandemic had cast a pall over his January trade deal with Beijing, which he has previously hailed as a major achievement…Read More

Covid-19: Here’s what chief ministers said to PM Modi on easing lockdown

Covid-19: Here’s what chief ministers said to PM Modi on easing lockdown

On Monday during the fifth video conference with state Chief Ministers, PM Modi delivered a clear message – planning must be done to increase public, economic activities while trying to contain the spread of coronavirus.PM said, “We have a two-fold challenge — to reduce the transmission rate of the disease, and increase public activity gradually while adhering to all the guidelines,” and asked for written suggestions on a roadmap for economic revival from the states by May 15. He also stressed that all efforts should be made to stop the spread of Covid-19 to rural areas.

During the meeting, several CMs pointed out that with the return of migrants, there is a need to implement strict social distancing guidelines, usage of masks, and sanitisation in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the rural areas. Many asked for compulsory quarantine for all those who have returned from abroad. Several CMs also raised the need to strengthen the medical and health infrastructure in the country and sought support to MSMEs, infrastructure projects, easing of interest rates on loans and assured market access for agricultural produce…

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 70,827; Vaccine not guaranteed, says UK PM

US govt predicts more job losses, in talks with Congress on Covid-19 relief

While Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, are moving to unveil new legislation as early as this week, the White House signaled it is in no hurry to pass another relief bill

The White House has begun informal talks with Republicans and Democrats in Congress about what to include in another round of coronavirus relief legislation, officials said on Sunday, while predicting further US job losses in the coming months. Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, said they were holding discussions with lawmakers on issues including potential aid to states whose finances have been devastated by the pandemic.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 crisis: Tracking the coronavirus footprint across the world

Another White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said future legislation could include food aid to help Americans struggling with hunger amid widespread job losses that have ruined the finances of many people. It also could include broadband access for those who lack it, Hassett added.While Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, are moving to unveil new legislation as early as this week, the White House signaled it is in no hurry to pass another relief bill.

“Let’s take the next few weeks,” Mnuchin told the “Fox News Sunday” program. Since early March, Congress has passed bills allocating $3 trillion to combat the pandemic, including taxpayer money for individuals and companies to blunt an economic impact that includes an unemployment rate to 14.7% in April after US job losses unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s…click here

WHO denies report claiming China pressurised it to withhold Covid-19 info

German weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic

The World Health Organisation has dismissed a media report saying that it withheld information about Covid-19 following pressure from China, and termed it as ‘false allegation’. The UN agency said in a statement late Saturday that a German magazine’s report about a telephone conversation between WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 21 was unfounded and untrue.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE

Weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic. The magazine quoted Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, which declined to comment on Sunday. Der Spiegel also claimed that the BND concluded up to six weeks of time to fight the outbreak had been lost due to China’s information policy.

WHO said Tedros and Xi have never spoken by phone and added that such inaccurate reports distract and detract from efforts to end the Covid-19 pandemic. It added that China confirmed human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus on January 20. WHO officials issued a statement two days later saying there was evidence of human-to-human transmission in Wuhan, but more investigation was necessary.

Covid-19 lockdown: Railways ferried 450,000 Indians in 428 special trains

Western Railways has operated a total of 191 Shramik Special ferrying over 225,000 migrants

Since the government has approved the movement of stranded people across the country, Indian Railways has operated 428 Shramik special trains to transport over 450,000 migrant workers, students, pilgrims and tourists stuck to their home states. However, in a late-night development on Sunday, the Railway Ministry announced that it has given green signal to passenger train services from May 12.

Nearly 1,000 workers from Tamil Nadu, stranded in Maharashtra, reached Tiruchirappalli by a special train operated by Southern Railways on Sunday. They operated similar services to ferry over 3,000 workers to destinations in Manipur and Andhra Pradesh among others from the state.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE

Similar trains left Chennai, one each for Srikakulam in AP, Jiribam in Manipur and Jagannathpur in Odisha with 881, 1081 and 1038 passengers respectively. Another special train carrying 1,140 migrant workers left from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur to Muzaffarpur in Bihar. A train left for Jagannathpur in Odisha from here with 1,038 passengers, and another ferrying 1,126 people to Danapur in Bihar departed from Katpadi (Vellore).

2,280 more people began their journey to Jaunpur and Akbarpur, both in Uttar Pradesh, by two separate trains from Coimbatore, on Sunday. In Maharashtra, as many as 220 migrants, including women and children, were found going on foot towards Madhya Pradesh on the Mumbai-Agra national highway. They were accommodated in 10 buses and dropped till the border of their home state from Nashik. A Shramik Special train carrying 1,200 migrant workers also left Jalna for Unnao in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening.

Lockdown 3.0: Districts under Green Zone and relaxations amid coronavirus

Coronavirus lockdown in India: Check out the full list of Green Zone districts in India, relaxations and prohibitions under coronavirus lockdown 3.0

The number of coronavirus cases in India has been rising consistently, prompting the government to further extend the nationwide lockdown in for to prevent the spread of the virus till May 17. However, the third phase of lockdown comes with several relaxations, especially for districts that have recorded no or few Covid-19 cases.

Coronavirus Lockdown 3.0 notification

MoHFW will share the list of Red Zone (hotspot), Orange Zone and Green Zone districts and related information with state and Union territories on a weekly basis or earlier as required. So, Green Zones or Orange Zones can be re-classified as Orange Zones or Red Zones, respectively. But Red Zones or Orange Zones cannot be re-classified as Orange Zones or Green Zones, respectively.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus lockdown 3.0: Red zone India guidelines, districts, and more

What is a Green Zone?

Green zones are the districts with either zero confirmed cases till date or, no confirmed case in the last 21 days.

What is prohibited under lockdown 3.0 in Green Zone

1. All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for medical services, air ambulance and for security purposes or for purposes as permitted by MHA

2. All passenger movement by trains, except for security purposes or for purposes as permitted by MHA

3. Inter-state buses for public transport, except as permitted by MHA.

4. Metro rail services

5. Inter-state movement of citizens except for medical reasons or for activities permitted by MHA

6. All schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutes, etc…

Read Full Story on Coronavirus lockdown 3.0

Covid-19 vaccine by end of 2020, says Trump as drug search intensifies

The European Union has pledged to set up an international medical program with an initial pledge of raising $8 billion to find a vaccine and treatment for the pandemic

US President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed confidence that a vaccine for coronavirus could be available by the end of this year. “I think we’ll have a vaccine by the end of the year. We’ll have a vaccine much sooner rather than later,” Trump said at a Fox News virtual town hall. The search for a vaccine for coronavirus infection has already intensified around the globe.The European Union has pledged to set up an international medical program with an initial pledge of raising $8 billion to find a vaccine and treatment for the pandemic.

In Britain, clinical trials have begun of a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by scientists at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute. Other developers across Europe have also stepped up their works on their own experimental shots against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Within the United States, at least 115 vaccine projects are going on in laboratories at companies and research labs, according to media reports.Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that a vaccine against the coronavirus, when developed, should be universal and available for every individual across the world.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Italy reports lowest deaths since first day of lockdown

Coronavirus: Take a look at number of cases & death toll in these 13 states

During a video conference meeting with PM Modi, many states have reportedly called for an extension of the second phase of lockdown which is in place till May 3

India has seen a steady rise in coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. The total count has reached 29,451 and the death toll currently stands at 939, according to Worldometer data. During a video conference meeting with PM Modi, many states have reportedly called for an extension of the second phase of lockdown which is in place till May 3.

Maharashtra : Maharashtra on Monday reported 522 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of the infected people to 8,590. The death toll mounted to 8,590 with 27 more fatalities yesterday. Mumbai reported 395 new Covid-19 cases and 15 new fatalities, taking the total number of the infected patients in the country’s financial capital to 5,589. In Dharavi, out of the 288 Covid-19 patients detected so far 14 have died. In Pune, 84 fresh Covid cases have been detected taking the tally in the district increased to 1,348. Aurangabad reported 29 new cases taking the total to 82. A total of 1,45,677 people are currently in home quarantine across the state while 9,399 others in institutional quarantine.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 29,451; Maharashtra 8,590, Delhi 3,108

Gujarat : Gujarat recorded 247 new coronavirus infections on Monday, most of which was in Ahmedabad – taking the tally to 3,548. The number of fatalities increased to 162. Gujarat has so far conducted coronavirus tests on 53,575 people – 2,848 of them in the last 24 hours. As many as 8,908 samples have been tested using rapid testing kits.

Delhi : Delhi reported 190 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, however, no new deaths were reported. Currently, there are 2,177 active cases in the national capital, while 877 have recovered. Meanwhile, the government allowed veterinarians, plumbers, electricians, and water purifier repairers to resume work….Read Full Story

Covid-19 patients can now opt for home isolation: Here're govt guidelines

“Very mild/ presymptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation,” it said

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday said that very mild or presymptomatic Covid-19 patients will have the option to opt for home isolation, given that his/ her residence has the facility to do so.

As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be identified as very mild, mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to Covid Care Centre or dedicated Covid hospital. “However, very mild/ presymptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation,” the government said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 29,451; toll hits 939; US tally past 1 mn

Who can go for home isolation?

Those who have been clinically assigned as a very mild case/ pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer. However, they need to fill in an undertaking on self-isolation agreement before doing so.

• They should have the required facility for self-isolation at home and also for quarantining the family contacts
• A caregiver should be appointed on 24 x7 basis, who will have to maintain communication with the hospital for the entire duration of home isolation.
• The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol
• The Arogya Setu App should remain active at all times
• The patient will have to monitor his health and regularly inform the District Surveillance Officer of his health status for further follow up by the surveillance teams.

Covid-19 Factoid: Death toll in India is doubling at same rate as in the US

Even as the number of daily fatalities globally fell for 3 straight days and the US epicentre of New York on April 18 saw only 23 new cases, New Jersey reported more than 3,000 on the same day

The global tally of coronavirus infections has gone past 2.4 million, and the death toll stands at 166,000. A little more than 600,000 people have now recovered from the infection. The United States, the worst affected country, accounts for more than 30 per cent of all reported cases globally. It is followed by Italy and Spain with less than 10 per cent cases apiece.

In India, the total number of confirmed cases has now topped 17,000, with the current death toll at 559. With 2,854 recoveries, a little more than 16 per cent of all infected people have managed to beat the virus.

Here are a few data trends to help you understand the present pandemic situation:

1. Daily fatalities fall for three days in a row

The number of fatalities reported daily has come down significantly from its peak of 10,761 on April 14. For the past three days, there has been a progressive decline in the number of deaths. However, it is too early to predict that the curve has flattened. The US still has the highest number of deaths, at just a little under the combined total of the next two countries – Italy and Spain.

2. Covid-19 deaths in India doubling at the same rate as in the US

The time taken for death toll to double in India is below the world average of 12. Worryingly, the metric for India is the same as that in the US, at 9. Italy and Spain, with the second- and third-highest fatalities, took 20 and 17 days before their respective fatality figures doubled…Read More

India coronavirus dispatch: Social measures to raise public consciousness

From risk stratification approach, to a game-changing vaccine, and what precautions you should take when visiting a shop – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Here’s a round-up of important coronavirus-related articles from across Indian publications. From risk stratification approach, to a game-changing vaccine, and what precautions you should take when visiting a shop – read these and more in today’s India dispatch

Citizens Under Lockdown

NGO feeds 30,000 slum dwellers daily during lockdown: The Mumbai Roti Bank (MRB), a non-governmental organisation, founded by Sivanandan in January 2018, has tied up with the Mumbai Police to ensure that the city’s daily-wage earners and the poor living in areas like Dharavi, a containment zone, do not go without food. Read more here.

Covid lockdown takes a toll on India’s red-light areas: Most residents of red-light areas live in cramped quarters, with poor sanitation and often no running water, ruling out social distancing and other hygiene measures that are supposed to contain the virus. Should a case of Covid-19 be detected in these areas, it would spread like wildfire, social workers as well as residents of red-light districts fear. Read more here.

Long Reads

Essential outreach services hit in states with worst health indicators: Six of the eight most socioeconomically backward Indian states — together called the empowered action group — which have among the highest infant and maternal mortality rates have discontinued health outreach services during the lockdown, multiple government and media reports show. Immunisation, antenatal checks (ANCs) and nutrition drives have been halted in all these states except Odisha, which continues apace, and Uttarakhand, which has kept its immunisation services open. Read more here.