(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

An increase of 796 cases has been reported since yesterday, with a total of 9152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. As many as 857 persons have been cured/discharged after recovery and total 308 deaths have been reported, as of today. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is using cutting edge technology at all levels for timely response at district administration level to COVID-19. The implementation of the action plan has started yielding appreciable results in 25 districts across 15 States which reported cases earlier. These districts have no case reported since the last 14 days and constant vigil is being maintained to ensure that no new cases may occur in future.

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PM to address the nation on 14th April 2020

Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi will address the nation tomorrow i.e. 14th April 2020 at 10 AM.

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MHA directs States to implement Lockdown Guidelines in letter & spirit to ensure smooth movement of Inter & Intrastate Cargo, Trucks, Workers and functioning of Warehouse/Cold Storages

MHA has directed States to implement lockdown guidelines in letter & spirit to ensure smooth movement of inter & intrastate cargo, trucks, workers and functioning of warehouse/cold storages, as it has come to the notice of the Ministry that in some parts of the country, the aforesaid guidelines and clarifications are not being implemented in letter and spirit.

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Telephone conversation between Prime Ministers of India and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi had a telephone conversation today with H.E. Mr. Nguyen XuanPhuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The two leaders discussed the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps being taken to address this challenge.

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Robust Digital Payment Infrastructure Enables Prompt Transfer of Cash Payment under PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Package.

A digital pipeline has been laid through linking of Jan-Dhan accounts as well as other accounts with the account holders’ mobile numbers and Aadhaar [Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM)]. This infrastructure pipeline is providing the necessary backbone for DBT flows, adoption of social security/pension schemes, etc. The PradhanMantri Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY) was launched in August, 2014 with an aim to provide bank accounts to unbanked persons. Out of around 126 crore operative CASA accounts as on 20^th March 2020, more than 38 crore have been opened under PMJDY.

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PradhanMantriGaribKalyanPackage: Progress so far

More than 32crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs29,352crore under the PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Package. 5.29 Crore beneficiaries distributed free ration of food grains under PradhanMantriGaribKalyan AnnYojana. 97.8 Lakh free Ujjwala cylinders delivered. 2.1 Lakh members of EPFO taken benefit of online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO account amounting toRs 510crore. First instalment of PM-KISAN :Rs14,946crore transferred to 7.47crore farmers. Rs 9930 crore disbursed to 19.86 crore to Women Jan Dhan account holders. Rs 1400 crore disbursed to about 2.82 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons. 2.17crore Building & Construction workers received financial support amounting to Rs 3071crore.

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Grant of Consular Services to Foreign Nationals, presently residing in India due to travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19 outbreak, till 30th April, 2020

Regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation, of such foreign nationals who have been stranded in India because of spread of COVID-19 in many parts of the world and due to consequent travel restrictions imposed by Indian Authorities and whose Visas have expired or would be expiring during 01.02.2020 (Midnight) to 30.04.2020 (Midnight), would be extended till 30^th April 2020 (Midnight) on GRATIS basis, after making online application by the Foreigner.

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44 Evacuees Return Home from Naval Quarantine Camp at Ghatkopar, Mumbai

The Indian Navy Quarantine Facility at Material Organisation, Ghatkopar, Mumbai has silently and successfully completed the task of quarantining 44 evacuees (including 24 women) from Iran.

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Medical cargo flights under Operation Lifeline UDAN transport 108 tons of essential supplies for the nation in a single day

Over 214 Lifeline Udan flights have been operated by MoCA to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.

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Vice President asks universities to ensure continuity of academic calendar during lockdown

The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu today asked Universities and other educational institutions to harness fully the power of technology to ensure continuity of academic calendar during the lock-down period. Interacting with Vice Chancellors of various Universities and Director of the Indian Institute of Public Administration through a video conference, the Vice President observed that it might take some more time for normalcy to return and enquired about their plans to cope with the disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

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Indian Railways continues feeding the infrastructure sector and ramps up the supply chain during the COVID-19 lockdown

During last 11 days from 1st April to 11th April 2020, Railways loaded and carried 192165 wagons of coal, and 13276 wagons of petroleum products (One wagon contains 58-60 ton consignment).

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CEC & ECs to contribute to Covid Funding in the form of voluntary reduction of thirty per cent of their basic salary from ECI for one year

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Surat evolves Rapid Crisis Management Plan under SBM-Urban

Description automatically generated with clear objectives of reducing human to human transmission by breaking the chain of transmission concentrating on epidemiological triad (Agent-Host-Environment Factors), early detection of suspected cases and providing optimum care to the confirmed cases of COVID-19, SuratMunicipality has adopted three-pronged approach which they call “3-T Strategy” - Track, Test and Treat to fight against COVID-19.

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SHG women working as Business Correspondents for banks (BC Sakhis) and Bank Sakhis playing a vital role in disbursement of first tranch of ex-gratia of Rs.500/- to women PMJDY accounts amidst COVID-19 Lockdown

Out of around 8800 BC Sakhi and 21600 Bank Sakhi, around 50% of both cadre voluntarily started working amidst Lockdown across the country in many states. Bank Sakhis are supporting Bank Branch Managers in managing rush at branches during DBT payment and ensuring social distancing of customers by creating awareness among rural community.

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Community Kitchens run by SHG Women provide food to the most poor and vulnerable in Rural Areas during the COVID-19 lockdown

Self Help Groups across the country have responded with various initiatives to ensure continued access to essential services; Women collectives are also supporting front line health workers in the delivery of essential child, adolescent & maternal health and nutrition-related entitlements.

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Rural Women from Assam prepare products like hand sanitizer, homemade mask to combat COVID19

Rural Women Technology Park (RWTP) under CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, Supported by SEED Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), have engaged rural women to prepare various products such as hand sanitizer, homemade mask, and liquid disinfectant to be distributed freely among family members and poor people in the nearby village to help combat COVID 19 in the area.

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Minority Affairs Minister appeals to Indian Muslims to strictly follow the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing, during the holy month of Ramadan in view of challenges of Corona pandemic

ShriMukhtar Abbas Naqvihas appealed that in view of challenges of Corona pandemic, Indian Muslims should strictly and honestly follow the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing during the holy month of Ramadan, likely to start from 24^thApril, by offering prayers and performing other religious rituals staying inside their homes.

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More than 3700 suggestions received for ‘Bharat Padhe Online’ campaign in just 3 days

HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had launched a week long ‘Bharat Padhe Online’ campaign for Crowd sourcing of Ideas for Improving Online Education ecosystem of India on 10^th April 2020. The campaign is gaining popularity among social media users and the HRD Ministry has received more than 3700 suggestions for ‘Bharat Padhe Online’ campaign in just 3 dayson Twitter and e-mail.

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Dr.Jitendra Singh reviews the work done by DoPT, DARPG &DoPPW in the wake of COVID-19.

Apart from reviewing the readiness of the departments to fight the Pandemic, the Minister has asked the officers and staff that work should not suffer at all during this period. By April 12, 2020, Government had redressed 7000 COVID 19 Public Grievances with an average disposal time of 1.57 days.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Arunachal Pradesh: 138 Bn CRPF is organizing door-to-door awareness campaign about COVID19 in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Assam: To help Assamese people stranded in other states, Assam govt launches Assam COVID helpline number 96-1547-1547, tweets Assam Health Minister HimantaBiswaSarma.
• Manipur: Directorate of Health Services, Manipur asks people not to buy Hydroxychloroquine over the counter without doctor's prescription.
• Meghalaya: Wearing of face mask made mandatory in all public places in South West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.
• Mizoram:  CM Mizoram meets representatives from churches, NGOs, political parties and important officials regarding actions to be taken for COVID19 pandemic today.
• Nagaland: StateGovt says first COVID-19 patient from state travelled from Kolkata to Dimapur in Air India flight 709 (Seat no. 5B). Starts contact tracing of all co-passengers.
• Sikkim: DG, Health hopeful with 70 negative cases so far, Sikkim could safely presume itself to be in the green zone.
• Tripura: StateGovt decides that manufacturing units of essential commodities will remain functional during the lockdown period.
• Kerala: State decides to ease the lockdown restrictions only after knowing  CentralGovt's decision. 4 nurses from Kerala test +ve in Mumbai and Pune. Because of Vishu festival tomorrow, Police having tough time enforcing lockdown on streets. 36 patients recovered while 2 new cases were confirmed yesterday. Total cases till now 375; Death rate of 0.53 % better than world average.
• TamilNadu: Experts’ panel recommends mass testing & making mask use mandatory; 2 PG doctors at Coimbatore ESI Hospital-who treated Covid patients-isolated after showing symptoms. State to bear expenses of Covid testing in pvt labs. 106 new +ve cases reported yesterday. Total +ve cases till now 1075; discharged 50; deaths 11.  Chennai (181) & Coimbatore (97) lead.
• Karnataka: 15 new cases till now today. Belgavi 3, Bidar 2, Mandya 3, Dharwad 4, 1 each in Bagalkote, Bengaluru Rural & Bengaluru Urban. Total confirmed cases 247. So far 6 dead and 59 discharged.
• Andhra Pradesh: State sets up mobile Walk-in Sample Kiosk (WISK) in Srikakulam for testing & sample collection. Govt. launches DrYSR  telemedicinepgm with toll free no. 14410 for Covid assistance. State to intensify sample testing using PCR technique. 12 new cases reported today taking the total number of +ve cases to 432;  recovered and discharged 12; deaths 7. Guntur (90) & Kurnool (84) lead in +ve cases.
• Telangana: State reports 1 more +ve case; total +ve cases till now stand at 532. Hyderabad Police book local TablighiJamaat leader after foreigners were given shelter at the local office. In view of the lockdown being extended till April 30, the govt has postponed all the common entrance tests.
• Maharashtra:  In Mumbai, even as the Municipal authorities are battling to contain Covid-19 outbreak in Dharavi, other slum areas in the city like WorliKoliwada and Govandi have emerged as new hotbeds.  Social distancing is difficult to practice in these densely populated clusters and health experts believe Mumbai’s biggest challenge is to prevent the virus from breaking lose in these slums.
• Gujarat:   22 new  Covid 19 cases were reported in Gujarat today, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 538.  Among the new cases, 13 were reported from Ahmedabad, five from Surat, two from Banaskantha, and one each from Anand and Vadodara,
• Rajasthan:  In Rajasthan 11 more cases of coronavirus on Monday, taking the state's tally to 815.  10 of the 11 positive cases are from Bharatpur.  Meanwhile, the state government has postponed all University exams indefinitely and also declared summer holidays from April 16th – May 30th.

Fact Check on #Covid19

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