(Contains Press releases concerning Covid-19, issued in last 24 hours, inputs from PIB Field Offices and Fact checks undertaken by PIB)

Dr. Harsh Vardhan engages with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh to review preparedness and containment measures taken for COVID-19 management

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare held a high level meeting today with Lieutenant Governors of Jammu and Kashmir, andLadakh, and Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. He said that in view of the surge of returning migrant labourers, States/UTs need to focus on more effective surveillance, contact tracing, adequate testing and timely treatment of all the returnees. This also includes the ones that shall be returning from abroad.

As on 12th May 2020, a total of 70,756 cases have been reported from the country in which 22,455 persons have been cured and 2,293 deaths had occurred. In the last 24 hours, 3,604 new confirmed cases have been added and 1538 patients were found cured. While the doubling time in the past 14 days was 10.9, it has improved to 12.2 in the last three days, he noted. He added that the fatality rate is 3.2% and recovery rate is pegged at 31.74%.It was reiterated to the States that attention needs to be accorded to provisioning of non-COVID essential health services.

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Prime Minister interacts with the Chief Ministers of all the states and UTs

Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi interacted with the Chief Ministers of all the States and UTs in the country on Monday to discuss the road ahead in India’s fight against COVID-19.He said that we have a twofold challenge – to reduce the transmission rate of the disease, and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering to all the guidelines.Prime Minister further said now the effort should be to stop the spread of the COVID-19 to rural areas.PM said that the Post-COVID era also brings opportunities that India must leverage.We must understand that the World has fundamentally changed post COVID-19. Now the World will be Pre-Corona, Post-Corona just like the case of the World Wars. And this would entail significant changes in how we function.He said the new way of life would be on the principle of “Jan Se lekar Jag Tak”, from an individual to the whole of humanity.He said we must all plan for the new reality.

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Indian Railways operate 542 “Shramik Special” trains till 12th May, 2020 (09:30 hrs) across the country

As on 12th May 2020, a total of 542 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalized from various states across the country, in which 448 trains had reached its destination and 94 trains are in transit.These 448 trains terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 Train), Bihar (117 Trains), Chattisgarh (1 Train), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jharkhand (27 Trains), Karnataka (1 Train), Madhya Pradesh (38 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Odisha (29 Trains), Rajasthan(4 Trains), Tamil Nadu (1 Train), Telangana(2 Trains), Uttar Pradesh (221 Trains), West Bengal(2 Trains).In these Shramik Special Trains, properscreening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.

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Restoration of passenger train services started in a graded manner

Indian Railways began restoration of passenger train services with 8 trains today. Starting in a graded manner, these trains would run from New Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah, Ahmedabad, Patna and Bangalore. Train No. 02442 New Delhi to Bilaspur Special train started its journey today from New Delhi Railway Station as a first special train to be restored after the suspension of passenger train services due to COVID 19.  Total 03 Special trains shall depart from New Delhi today with more than 3400 passengers, while total 05 special  trains will depart from other cities towards New Delhi. These special train service shall be in addition to the Shramik specials run by Indian Railways.

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6037 Indians return from abroad in 31 flights under Vande Bharat Mission since 7th May 2020

Government of India started Vande Bharat Mission - one of the largest initiatives to repatriate nationals back to India, on 7^th May 2020. Under this mission, Ministry of Civil Aviation is coordinating with Ministry of External Affairs and state Governments for bringing Indians back to their homeland.Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express are operating a total of 64 flights (42 by Air India & 24 by AI Express) to 12 countries viz. USA, UK Bangladesh, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Philippines, UAE and Malaysia to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase.

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PM expresses gratitude to Nurses on International Nurses Day

The Prime Minister, ShriNarendraModi has expressed gratitude to Nurses on the occasion of International Nurses Day.“International Day of the Nurse is a special day to express gratitude to the phenomenal nurses working round the clock to keep our planet healthy. Presently, they are doing great work towards defeating COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to the nurses and their families.” the Prime Minister said.

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International Nurses Day observed

On the occasion of the International Nurses Day, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfarepresided over the celebrations through video conference. This year is also significant as World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as the ‘Year of the Nurse and the Midwife’. Appreciating the work and selfless dedication of the nursing professionals, and calling them the strong and pivotal pillars of the healthcare delivery system, Dr Harsh Vardhan, said, "The depth of your work and sincerity cannot be defined adequately, such is your commitment.Thank you allfor your kindness, dedication & healing touch and always putting patients first, no matter how grueling the day.”He also expressed gratitude for their stellar and continuous work during the ongoing pandemic.

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Government extends last date for receipt of nominations for the Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 upto 15.6.2020

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Dr. JitendraSingh addresses Indo-Bangladesh “Virtual Conference” organised by ASSOCHAM

Union DoNER Minister of State (I/C) DrJitendra Singh said here today that new paradigms will emerge post-COVID, with a potential for new breakthroughs in economy, trade, scientific research and several other diverse areas.

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Technology Centres Now Manufacturing Critical Parts of Real Time Quantitative Micro PCR System

Technology Centres, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur and Kolkata of the Ministry of MSME are now manufacturing critical parts of Real Time Quantitative Micro PCR System for AMTZ, Vishakhapatnam. This machine can give COVID 19 test results in less than 1 hour (normal test result takes minimum 24 hours) and has been designed by a private MSME enterprise.

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CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru develop BiPAP Non Invasive Ventilator “SwasthVayu” in 36 Days for COVID -19

The system has been certified for safety and performance by NABL accredited agencies and undergone stringent biomedical tests. BiPAP Non-Invasive ventilator is a microcontroller-based precise closed-loop adaptive control system which can help to alleviate the fear of the virus spread.

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Ministry of MSME Launches CHAMPIONS Portal

Union Ministry of MSME has launched CHAMPIONS portal www.Champions.gov.in, a Technology driven Control Room-Cum-Management Information System. The system utilising modern ICT tools is aimed at assisting Indian MSMEs march into big league as National and Global CHAMPIONS.

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BPPI Contributes Rs.25 Lakh to PMCARES fund

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Administrator has expressed satisfaction at the work of the Administration in arranging special “Shramik Trains” for movement of migrants. He expressed happiness that the passengers were provided with adequate food and water and the entire expenses were borne by the Administration including the cost of rail tickets.
• Punjab: Punjab Government had dispatched 13 Punjab Roadways buses to bring back 336 Punjabis stranded in Delhi for over a month, including the people currently staying in GurudwaraMajnuKaTilla. All people coming back to Punjab are to undergo compulsory quarantine as per health protocols on COVID-19. The Government agencies and private Traders have procured 1,50,918 metric tonnes of wheat in Punjab on 26th day of procurement. The Government agencies procured 1,50,771 MT of wheat 147 MT has been procured by the private traders (arhtyias).
• Haryana: While empathizing with the distress of the migrant labourers and workers stranded in the state due to the peculiar conditions created by the global pandemic, COVID-19, the Haryana government has continued the work of sending eager migrant workers to their home states. Yesterday, 1,208 agricultural migrant labourers from Rewari and 1,188 migrant labourers from Ambala Cantonment left by Special Shramik Trains with their families.
• Himachal Pradesh: The Chief Minister has said that the State Government would not cut down capital expenditure, but at the same time the Government would adopt austerity measures by curbing unproductive and wasteful expenditure. He said that the State Government has started Mukhya Mantri ShahriAjivika Guarantee Yojna in the State to provide 120 days of assured unskilled employment to every household in urban areas.
• Kerala:Kerala government issues detailed guidelines for hassle-free entry to the state by road and rail. Those coming without a pass will be in mandatory institutional quarantine. Kerala HC has asked the State govt to immediately bring clarity into the quarantine of expats who will return to the state after observing contradictions between the guidelines issued by the Centre and State. Five Keralites have died of Covid-19 in the Gulf today. Four rescue flights to come to the state tonight from Gulf. The second ship from Maldives is to bring 202 stranded Indians to Kochi this evening. As of now there are 27 active Covid-19 cases under treatment and 34 hot spots in the state.
• Tamil Nadu: Special train carrying 1,140 migrants for Bihar to leave today from Tirunelveli. Kumbakonam market sealed after a driver tests Covid-19 positive. State is currently mulling plans to identify private assets to set up hospitals exclusively to treat Covid-19. Govt. earmarks Rs 219 crore for free rations for June to all card holders. Trial for plasma therapy begins at Madras Medical College. Total cases till now: 8002, Active cases: 5895, Deaths: 53, Discharged: 2051. Active cases in Chennai are 4371.
• Karnataka: 42 new cases reported today. In Hassan district which is in green zone, first time 5 cases were reported. Today's cases till now: Bagalkot 15, Dharwad 9, Hassan 5, Bangalore 3, two each in Yadagiri, Bidar&Dakshin Kannada and One each in Chikkaballapur, Mandya, Bellary &Kalburgi. Total cases 904, Deaths 31 and 426 people discharged so far. Today Chief minister held a meeting with finance department officials regarding state financial condition during Covid crisis.
• Andhra Pradesh: State files affidavit in High Court over shifting of capital to Visakhapatnam. SCERT submits 58-page report to Andhra Pradesh government favouring introduction of English medium in public schools. 33 fresh cases reported; 58 discharged and one death reported in the last 24 hours after testing 10,730 samples.  Total cases rise to 2051. Active cases: 949, Recovered: 1056, Deaths: 46. Districts leading in +ve cases: Kurnool (584), Guntur (387), Krishna (346), Chittoor (131), Anantapur (115), Nellore (111).
• Telangana: The fourth 'Vande Bharat Mission' flight to Hyderabad from UK landed at the city's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the wee hours of Tuesday with 331 passengers on board. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is planning to reduce the seating capacity of buses to ensure physical distance once the lockdown is lifted. Total positive cases till yesterday1275, Active cases 444, Discharged 801, Deaths 30.
• Maharashtra: The total number of Covid 19 positive cases till date stand at 23,401.  In Mumbai, the count stood at 14,355, exactly two months after the first case was reported.   COVID-19  infection among police personnel in the state is increasing - 106 officers and 901 constables having contracted the virus so far.  Covid cases in Nagpur have touched 300, with two more cases reported today.  The Orange City has so far reported four deaths due to coronavirus infection.
• Gujarat:347 new positive cases and 20 deaths have been reported as per the latest data from the state’s health department. Now, the state tally stands at 8,541 and 513 COVID-19 related deaths have occurred in Gujarat till date . Of these new positive cases, 268 are in Ahmedabad, 29 in Vadodara, 19 are in Surat and 10 are in Gandhinagar.
• Rajasthan:The total number of positive cases reported today (till 2 p.m.) stand at 68, out of which 32 cases are from Udaipur. Maximum patients are in Jaipur and Jodhpur, while Udaipur has now come to occupy the third position. Doubling rate of cases now stands at 18 days in Rajasthan, which also has posted an encouraging recovery rate of 60.  The state has reported 3,988 Covid-19 positive cases so far, of which 1,551 are active cases and 2,059 patients have been discharged.
• Madhya Pradesh:With 171 new positive cases reported yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state stand at 3,785. 30 of the new cases have been reported from Bhopal, while 81 are from Indore. 
• Goa:Goa is hoping to see some more relaxations, especially with regard to interstate public transport, as Chief Minister PramodSawant suggested restricted lifting of curbs post May 17, when the third phase of the lockdown ends. There are no active Covid cases in Goa.
• Arunachal Pradesh:  Health Minister inaugurates 2nd COVID19 test centre at Naharlagun; test will be carried out by TRUENAT.
• Assam: CM on International Nurses Day said constant and dedicated efforts of the nurses in tackling COVID19 at the frontline have made them the backbone in our fight against Coronavirus.
• Manipur:Govt orders opening of Centralized Screening Centres in each district for managing returnees. Strict 14 day quarantine in official centres for all asymptomatic persons. Persons with flu like symptoms will be put in isolation ward and monitored.
• Mizoram: Chief Minister said that the state Govt will ensure the safety of stranded Mizos, requested to cooperate with government's various undertakings.
• Nagaland: Around 746 vehicles penalized on first day of odd-even rule in Dimapur; Rs 1.41 lakh collected as fine.   
• Sikkim: Black Cat Division GOC Major General, R C Tiwari called on the Sikkim Governor and appraised him about precautionary measures and safety protocols being followed by Army which has ensured zero COVID19 positive cases among the personnel of armed forces in Sikkim.

FACT CHECK

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