(Contains Press releases concerning Covid-19, issued in last 24 hours and

Fact checks undertaken by PIB)

Updates on COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

As of now, 5734 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 166 deaths have been reported in the country. 473 persons have been cured/discharged after recovery.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deputed high level multi-disciplinary Central teams to assist the States and State Health Department in activities pertaining to cluster containment plan and hospital preparedness (ICU & Ventilator management for COVID-19 patients).

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Government of India sanctions Rs. 15000 crores for India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package

Government of India (GoI) has announced significant investments to the tune of Rs.15000 crores for 'India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package'. The funds sanctioned will be utilized for immediate COVID-19 Emergency Response (amount of Rs.7774 crores) and rest for medium-term support (1-4 years) to be provided under mission mode approach.

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GoM reviews current status, and actions for management of COVID-19

The Group of Ministers (GoM) had detailed deliberation on containment and management of COVID-19. The GoM also discussed the actions taken so far, current status of social distancing measures as a preventive strategy and the stringent actions taken by the Centre as well as the States to contain the spread of COVID-19.

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India US Partnership is stronger than ever, says the Prime Minister

Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi today said that the India US Partnership is stronger than ever.ShriModi was responding to a tweet from the US President H.E. Donald Trump who expressed his gratitude for India’s decision to supply Hydroxychloroquine, in the USA’s fight against COVID-19.

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NGOs permitted to buy food grains directly from FCI for Relief operations

NGOs and Charitable Organizations are playing important role in providing cooked food to thousands of poor and needy people during this time of nationwide lockdown. To ensure uninterrupted supply of foodgrain to theseorganizations, the Government has directed FCI to provide Wheat and Rice to such organizations at the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) rates, without going through the e-auction process.

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MCA allows companies to hold EGMsthrough VC or OAVM complemented with e-Voting facility/simplified voting through registered emails

The General Circular No. 14/2020 dated 08.04.2020 issued by the MCA allows listed companies or companies with 1,000 shareholders or more which are required to provide e-voting facility under the Companies Act, 2013 to conduct EGM through VC/ OAVM and e-Voting. For other companies, a highly simplified mechanism for voting through registered emails has been put in place for easy compliance.

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ShriNarendra Singh Tomar chairs meeting with State Agriculture Ministers to review relief steps for farmers

Union Agriculture Minister appreciates the efforts of States for their proactive role in undertaking agriculture activities even during the challenging time in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. States told to sensitize field agencies about exemptions to farming related activities and allow movement of farm produce, farming products, fertilizers and farm implements & machinery

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Commerce and Industry Minister meets the Industry and traders Association; Assures them that the Ministry is working to solve their problems

ShriPiyushGoyal today held interaction with various Industry and Trade associations of the country to assess the ground situation and problems being faced by them in the wake of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown.He said that the Ministry is already working to solve the logistics and export-import related problems, and is also taking up other concerns of the industry and traders with various ministries.

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ShriPiyushGoyal calls upon the Exporters to think big and be ready for harnessing the potential in the post-Covid era; Says that we are globally responsible citizens

Ministry of Commerce and Industry today held interaction, through Video conferencing, with various Export Promotion Councils of the country to assess the ground situation and problems being faced by them in the wake of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown.

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Extension of premium payment period for Postal Life Insurance & Rural Postal Life Insurance till 30th June 2020

As a measure of convenience to all the PLI / RPLI customers, Directorate of Postal Life Insurance, Department of Posts has given an extension of period for payment of their due premium of March 2020, April 2020 & May 2020 upto 30^th June 2020 without charging any penalty/default fee.

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MoHUA Launches Revised Version of Swachhata App to Handle Queries Specific to COVID 19

The Swachhata-MoHUA App, a highly popular grievance redressal tool for citizens under the ambit of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) already has over 1.7 Crore+ urban users across the country. This app has now been modified and strengthened further in order to enable citizens to get their COVID-related complaints also redressed by their respective ULBs.

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Indian Railways has produced about 6 lakhs reusable face masks and more than 40000 litres hand sanitizer

In continuation of the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Indian Railways is making all out efforts to supplement the health care initiatives of Government of India. In this direction Indian Railways is producing reusable face masks and sanitizer in-house in all its Zonal Railways, Production Units and PSUs.

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Over 8.5 Lacs cooked meals to needy people distributed by Railways since 28th March in keeping with its social service commitment

Indian Railways which started provide cooked meals to needy people after the lockdown due to COVID-19, continues to provide bulk cooked food with paper plates for lunch and food packets for dinner through IRCTC base kitchens, RPF resources and contribution of NGOs, in keeping with its social service commitment. The food distribution is being done to the poor, destitute, beggars, children, coolies, migrant labourers, stranded persons and whoever else comes in search of food at and near the railway stations, and even at some distances away from the railway stations.

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Telephone Conversation between PM and President of Republic of Korea

Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi spoke on telephone today with H.E. Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea.The two leaders discussed COVID-19 global pandemic and the challenges it posed to the global health systems and economic situation. They shared information about the steps taken in their countries to tackle the pandemic.

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Telephone Conversation between PM and President of the Republic of Uganda
Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi had a telephone conversation today with H.E. President YoweriKagutaMuseveni of the Republic of Uganda. The two leaders discussed the health and economic challenges arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister assured H.E. President Museveni that India stands in solidarity with its friends in Africa during the present health crisis, and would extend all possible support to the Ugandan Government’s efforts to control the spread of the virus in its territory.

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Public and private airline operators and related agencies work tirelessly to serve collective purpose of fighting Covid-19

During Covid-19 lockdown period, essential medical supplies including consignments of ICMR, HLL and others are continuously being delivered across the country. Domestic public and private airline operators such as Air India, IAF, Pawan Hans, Indigo and Blue Dart transport medicines, ICMR consignments, HLL consignments and other essential supplies to Srinagar, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar and other regions of the country on 8th April 2020.

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COVID-19: Disinfection of public spaces in Smart Cities

Ever since COVID-19 outbreak was declared as global pandemic, Indian Cities have been making significant efforts in sanitizing the cities, especially the public spaces which are considered risk prone areas for local spread of virus. Since the nation-wide lockdown was announced on 25 March 2020, Cities have been adopting numerous approaches to disinfect the public spaces including the bus/railway stations, streets, markets, hospital premises, banks, etc.

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National Testing Agency extends scope for correction in the choice of centre cities in the online application form for JEE (Main) 2020

In the wake of current COVID-19 situation and in view of the hardships faced by the aspirants of JEE (Main) 2020 HRD Minister has advised National Testing Agency to further expand the scope of making corrections in application forms allowing students to include the choice of cities for centres. Accordingly, NTA further has expanded the scope of making corrections in the Application Forms to now also include the choice of cities for centre.

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Training module for management of COVID-19 named ‘Integrated Govt. Online training’ (iGOT) portal launched on DIKSHA platform of MHRD

Courses on iGOT have been launched for Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers, Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), State Government Officers, Civil Defence Officers, Various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corps(NCC), NehruYuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme, Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides and other volunteers at the stage.

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DoPT to empower Front Line COVID-19 Warriors with first of its kind iGOT e-learning Platform

Department of Personnel and Training has announced the launch of a learning platform (https://igot.gov.in) to combat COVID 19 for all front-line workers to equip them with the training and updates in coping with Pandemic. By giving COVID 19 training to other potential second line workforce, India will be better prepared for the emergent situations.

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Indian Railways introduces 109 Time tabled parcel trains over 58 routes to connect all the important centers.

In a major boost to the supply chain across the country, Indian Railways has introduced unhindered services of Time tabled Parcel Trains for nationwide transportation of essential commodities and other goods. This is expected to boost the availability of vital goods required for ordinary citizens, industry and agriculture.

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Digital Learning sees a big upsurge during COVID-19 lockdown period

Both schools and higher education institutions have started various modes of online classes and sharing of study material depending on the resources available with them and with the students. These range from structured online classes through platforms like Skype, Zoom, Google Classroom, Google Hangout, Piazza to teachers uploading lectures and class notes through YouTube, WhatsApp, sharing links of digital learning resources like SWAYAM, NPTEL, providing access to online journals.

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Several Measures Taken by ESIC to Extend Relief during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The country is dealing with a very challenging situation due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Many parts of the country have been placed under lockdown to enforce social distancing. To deal with the crisis, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has undertaken multiple steps to provide relief to its Stakeholders and members of public.

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TRIFED to launch a digital campaign in collaboration with UNICEF for self help groups to ensure Tribal Gatherers carry on their work safely

To ensure tribal gatherers carry on their work safely, TRIFED has collaborated with UNICEF for developing a digital communication strategy for promoting a digital campaign for Self Help Groups (SHGs) involved in this work, highlighting the importance of Social Distancing.

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SCTIMST scientists design super absorbent material for safe management of infected respiratory secretions

The material titled ChitraAcrylosorb Secretion Solidification System’, is a highly efficient superabsorbent material for liquid respiratory and other body fluid solidification and disinfection.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• CovidCare App of the state of Arunachal Pradesh launched to help people under quarantine, asymptomatic positive and Covid patients.
•  Amid COVID19 crisis, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council decides not to hold HS 1st year exam and promote all the students of the 1st year to 2nd year.
• Manipur CM releases music video to spread awareness on staying indoors, maintaining hygiene & social distancing.
• Vegetables imported from outside Mizoram will be first examined by the COVID-19 Medical Operational Teams of the state.
• Nagaland readies itself to combat COVID-19 with 34 isolation & 43 quarantine centers. 84 govt and 52 private ambulances pressed into service.
• Governor of Sikkim urged the State Govt to expedite setting up of Testing Lab for COVID-19.
• Tripura CM informed that condition of the only positive patient is stable.
• For the last two days, in Kerala, the number of recovery cases is more than the number of new infected cases. Kerala gets ICMR nod to explore plasma therapy for Covid infected patients. In Mumbai, two more Malayalee nurses get infected. Total cases till yesterday 345.
• In Tamil Nadu, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) along with the traders body has decided to introduce mobile vegetable and grocery shops during the lockdown period, in order to ease the supply to the residents. Total cases at 738.
• Researchers at Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus have developed a reusable 3D printed Face Shield for healthcare professionals fighting Covid-19. Eight more positive cases reported from Nizamabad in Telangana. Total cases rise to 461.
• Andhra Pradesh government is taking all measures to boost immunity of those quarantined by giving nutritious food along with treatment. Junior Doctors working in Anantapur Government Hospital protest for not being provided with N-95 masks and PPE kits. Two doctors and two nurses of the hospital were earlier infected. Total +ve cases stands at 348.

Fact Check on #Covid19

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YKB