(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 today, 12,380 confirmed cases and 414 deaths for COVID-19 have been reported in the country. As many as 1489 persons have been cured/discharged after recovery. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of COVID-19 cases in India is 3.3%.  The percentage of people recovered, so far, is 12.02%. As of now, 325 districts have not reported any case.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a detailed guideline to all the States / UTs on enabling delivery of essential health care services to meet the unprecedented demand on the current healthcare system during the outbreak.

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Health and Motor (Third Party) insurance policyholders allowed to make premium payments till May 15th which are due for renewal during lockdown

With a view to mitigate hardship to the policyholders whose Health and Motor (Third Party) insurance policies are due for renewal during COVID-19 lockdown, the Central Government issued Notifications allowing such policyholders to make premium payments till May 15^th. This will ensure a continued cover and hassle-free claims payment during the grace period.

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Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman attends the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting

Today in her intervention, Finance Minister focused upon the role of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in safeguarding the lives and livelihood of people while maintaining macroeconomic stability in a sustainable manner. She shared with her G20 counterparts the measures taken by Government of India to provide the vulnerable sections with swift, timely and targeted assistance. She added that so far, within a couple of weeks, India has disbursed financial assistance amounting to USD 3.9 billion to more than 320 million people, with a special focus on direct benefit transfer through digital technology so that the exposure of beneficiaries to public places is minimised.

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Key amendment to Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) Notification 2006,to ramp up availability/production of bulk drugs within short span of time.

To address unprecedented situation arising from global outbreak of Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), and to ramp up availability or production of various drugs, Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change on 27^th March 2020, made an amendment to EIA Notification 2006. All projects or activities in respect of bulk drugs and intermediates, manufactured for addressing various ailments, have been re-categorized from the existing Category ‘A’ to ‘B2’ category.

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“We can and we will defeat this Virus” – Dr. Harsh Vardhan

The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan held an interactive session through Video Conferencing with senior officials and field officers of the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as key central and state government health functionaries on the measures being taken for containment of COVID-19 in India.

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Date of Filing Electronic Challan Cum Return (ECR) for Wage Month March, 2020 Extended Up to 15.04.2020

Considering the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 and lockdown announced by the Central Government from 24.03.2020 midnight onwards to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the due date for filing of Electronic Challan Cum Return (ECR) for wage month March, 2020 is extended up to 15.05.2020 for employers who have paid wages to their employees for March, 2020.

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RakshaMantri reviews efforts of Cantonment Boards in fight against COVID-19

RakshaMantriShriRajnath Singh today reviewed the preventive measures undertaken by 62 Cantonment Boards situated in all over the country to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).ShriRajnath Singh stressed that Cantonment Boards should ensure highest standards of sanitation and hygiene and fumigation specifically in the populated Civil Areas. He stressed that special care should be taken to provide food and shelter for the vulnerable sections of migrants/daily wagers.

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Agriculture Minister chairs the National Conference on Kharif crops 2020

Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said that all States should aim to achieve the kharif target and doubling of farmers’ income should be taken up in mission mode. Addressing the National Conference on Kharif crops 2020, he assured the States that the Government of India will remove any obstacles that the States are facing.The main aim of the National Kharif Conference was to discuss various issues and list out steps in consultation with the States about preparedness for Kharif cultivation in view of the lockdown situation.

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Updated status of Initiatives of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare to promote farming and allied sectors during lockdown

All India Agri Transport Call Centre launched; under PMFBY insurance claims worth Rs.2424 crores disbursed to farmers in 12 States; 18.26 lakh applications sanctioned for loan amount of Rs. 17,800 cr under KCC saturation drive

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Department of Fertilizers is closely monitoring the production, movement and availability of Fertilizers in the country

To deal with the situation arising out of COVID-19 Pandemic outbreak, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri D V SadanandaGowda, MoSShriMansukhMandaviya and Secretary, Department of Fertilizers ShriChhabilendra Raul are closely monitoring and reviewing the production and distribution activities of fertilizers in the country. The interventions at highest level in Department is ensuring required availability of fertilisers to the farmers across India. The real time monitoring by the Department is being done to tide over any issue in the production and supply chain.

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ShriMukhtar Abbas Naqvi directs state waqf boards to ensure strict and honest implementation of lockdown, curfew and social distancing during the holy month of Ramadan in view of Corona pandemic

Minister for Minority Affairs & Chairman, Central Waqf Council, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today interacted with senior officials of more than 30 state waqf boards and directed them to ensure strict and honest implementation of lockdown, curfew and social distancing in view of Corona pandemic during the holy month of Ramadan, which will begin from 24^th April. More than 7 lakh registered Mosques, Eidgah, Imambada, Dargah and other religious, social institutions come under the state waqf boards across the country. Central Waqf Council is the regulatory body of state waqf boards in India.

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MoS Agriculture, ShriKailashChoudhary inaugurates Pusa Decontamination & Sanitizing Tunnel

Pusa Decontamination and Sanitizing Tunnel, developed by Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Framers’ Welfare, ShriKailashChoudhary today.

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Union HRD Minister releases alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT for schools

In order to engage students meaningfully during their stay at home due to COVID-19 through educational activities at home with the help of their parents and teachers,the alternative academic calendar has been developed by the NCERT under the guidance of the MHRD.

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AICTE gives instructions to colleges/institutions to ensure safety and academic welfare of students

AICTEhasissuedsomeinstructionsto colleges/institutions andhas directed them that ensuring safety precautions during the threat posed by COVID-19 would be fundamental responsibility of all citizens of India. During this hour of crisis.colleges/ Institutions should not insist on payment of fees till the ongoing lockdown is lifted and normalcy is restored.

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Exam Schedule announcements by SSC

In view of the prevailing lockdown restrictions, including social distancing norms, SSC has decided that dates for all examinations, where candidates are required to travel from all parts of the country, will be reviewed from time to time. The rescheduled dates of these examinations will be notified on the websites of the Commission and its Regional / Sub-Regional Offices of the Commission. Annual Calendar of Examinations notified by the Commission will also be reviewed in respect of the schedules of other examinations. Further, it was decided that all Officers and Staff Members of the SSC will contribute one day’s salary to PM CARES Fund.

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Advisory for Senior Citizens and their Caregivers during Lockdown Period due to Covid-19

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Gram Panchayats in all parts of the country actively taking measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in rural areas

Various actions being taken at the district and village levels include daily sanitization of public places; establishing shelters and quarantine centres for destitute persons and migrant populations; providing protective gear, financial assistance and food/ration to the needy; and spreading awareness about the disease

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Integrated geospatial platform to help area-specific strategies & decisions in COVID-19 outbreak

Department of Science and Technology has created an Integrated Geospatial Platform out of available geospatial datasets, standards-based services, and analytic tools to help decision making during the current COVID-19 outbreak and aid devising area-specific strategies to handle the socio-economic impact in the recovery phase.

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DRDO shifts PPE testing facility from DRDE Gwalior to INMAS Delhi

To overcome the time delays and swift delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and masks, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has shifted testing facility from Defence Research Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior to Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi.

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Ministry of Tourism organises its second webinar under "DekhoApnaDesh" webinar series today

The Ministry of Tourism is currently organizing a series of Webinars under the overall theme of ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ with a view to encourage Indians to explore their own country and to enrich the knowledge of stakeholders in the tourism industry, students, general public, etc. on various aspect of tourism sector.

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Power CPSU NTPC Utilising all its 45 hospitals/health units for treating Covid-19 Patients

The PSU dedicates two hospitals to state governments to tackle COVID cases in Delhi &Odisha.M.aharatna PSU undertakes Extensive works to provide relief during Covid-19 pandemic168 isolation beds created; geared to make available 122 more
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MHA issues Advisory on Secure use of ZOOM Meeting Platform

The Cyber Coordination Centre (CyCord), under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has issued an advisory on secure use of ZOOM Meeting Platform by private individuals. This advisory states that the platform is not for use by Government officers/officials for official purposes.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh receives about 12,361 MT rice from union government for distribution under PMGKAY.
• Assam:Gauhati University withdraws coming summer vacation for the university and other affiliated colleges to compensate loss of classes amid lockdown.
• Manipur: CM informs 3771 stranded people outside the State provided Rs 2000/- each through DBT. Remaining around 11,000 to receive within 2 to 3 days.
• Nagaland: State Government makes it mandatory to ensure thermal screening and availability of sanitizers at work places throughout the state.
• Tripura: Total 16 high-risk close contacts of the second patient have been tested negative.
• Maharashtra: Maharashtra has become the first state in India to cross the 3,000mark of Covid 19 positive cases. With 165 new Coronavirus cases reported today, Covid-19 tally has increased to 3081.  Out of the new cases, 107 were reported from Mumbai and 19 from Pune.  Meanwhile, the state government has launched a five pronged action plan covering health, migrants, economy, agriculture and day-to-day administration to fight the Coronavirus challenge.
• Gujarat: The total number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat rose to 871 after 105 more people tested positive for the infection.  Among the new cases, 42 were reported from Ahmedabad and  35 from Surat.  The state’s death toll stands at 36.
• Rajasthan: 18 new cases were reported in Rajasthan, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This brings the total reported cases of Coronavirus in Rajasthan to 1,023. The fourth highest after Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamilnadu. 
• Madhya Pradesh: The total number of Covid 19 cases in Madhya Pradesh rose to 980, with 42 more people testing positive in Indore alone. The city has reported 586 positive cases so far, and also accounts for 39 out of 55 deaths in the state.
• Goa: With no new Covid 19 cases reported in Goa since  April 4th, the west coast state is hoping to become Corona free soon. Out of the two districts in the state, South Goa has already been declared as a "green zone" by the Health & Family Welfare Ministry.  Out of the 7 positive cases in North Goa, five patients have recovered while two are undergoing treatment.
• Kerala: State to relax lockdown norms for agricultural sector & traditional industries like coir, cashew, handicraft &beedi from April 20. State to ask Centre to change zoning as follows: Red Zone- Kasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram& Kozhikode; to shift Wayanad and Kottayam to Green zone & remaining 8 districts in Orange Zone. Only 1 case reported yesterday. 218 of the 387 +ve cases have recovered.
• Tamil Nadu: 32 Covid patients discharged from Tiruchy hospital after testing negative. State tops with 22 districts in the 170 hot spots list. Total cases 1242; cases related to 'single source' Delhi event 1113; deaths 12;  discharged 118.
• Karnataka: BBMP to conduct health survey in Bangalore city. Media repors 34 new cases & one death today. Belagavi with 17 accounts for half of the cases today. Total confirmed +ve cases till now 313; deaths 13; active cases 187; cured 80.
• Andhra Pradesh: 9 new cases reported today. Total cases rise to 534; discharged 20; deaths 14; active cases 500. High no. of cases from Guntur (122) & Kurnool (113) districts. State issues notification for special recruitment drive to hire doctors on contract basis. To ensure availability of essentials to consumers & protect interest of farmers, State starts 471 temporary Rythu Bazars apart from the existing 100.
• Telangana: Telangana HC asks State to reply within five days whether it was able to reach the lakhs of unreached poor with rice, money and other essentials. HC directs State to take instant penal action against those who assault medical staff. Total +ve cases till now 650; active cases 514; deaths 18; discharged 118.
• Jammu and Kashmir: 14 new cases have been reported from the UT, taking the number of positive Covid cases to 314.

Fact Check on #Covid19

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