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

Updates on Covid-19 from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Recovered cases sharply overtake active cases; Difference between recovered and active cases crosses 1 lakh; Recovery rate increases to 58.56%

The gap between recoveries and active cases has crossed 1,00,000. The recovered cases have exceeded the active cases by 106,661 as of today. Thus, so far, a total of 3,09,712 patients have been cured of COVID-19. The recovery rate is 58.56% amongst COVID-19 patients. During the last 24 hours, a total of 13,832 COVID-19 patients have been cured.Presently, there are 2,03,051 active cases and all are under active medical supervision.India now has 1036 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 749 in the government sector and 287 private labs. Daily more than 2,00,000 samples are being tested. The samples tested in the last 24 hours have further increased to 2,31,095. The total number of samples tested, as on date, is 82,27,802.

For details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1634928

English rendering of PM’s address in the 13th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat 2.0’ on 28.06.2020

“My dear countrymen, irrespective of the magnitude of the calamity confronting us, India’s sanskar…way of life inspires one and all to serve selflessly. The way India extended a helping hand to the world during difficult times, it has reinforced India’s role in ushering in peace and development. This period also saw the world realising India’s spirit of universal brotherhood…at the same time it also noticed India’s commitment and might when it comes to safeguarding her sovereignty and territorial integrity. Those who cast an evil eye on Indian soil in Ladakh have got a befitting response. India honours the spirit of friendship…she is also capable of giving an appropriate response to any adversary, without shying away. Our brave soldiers have proven that they will not let anyone cast an evil eye on the glory and honour of Mother India.”

For details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1634917

Vice President advises people to not press the ‘panic’ button but reach out for the ‘prevention’ and ‘protection’

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has appealed to all countrymen to together protect the lives and livelihoods in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.In a facebook post today, the Vice President said that the Government is taking continuous measures to give a boost to the economy and asked everyone to support the government by taking necessary precautions and following the guidelines.Calling upon the people to collectively fight against this unprecedented health crisis, Shri Naidu said that our country’s strength lies in our faith in spirituality and trust in science.Maintaining that solution to COVID-19 lies in precautions, Vice President listed simple steps such as the use of face masks, practising safe distancing and washing of hands frequently as the only known ways of staying safe.

For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1634907

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness of 10,000 bed ‘Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre’ in Delhi yesterday

The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness of the 10,000 bed ‘Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre’ at the Radha Swami Satsang Beas in Delhi yesterday. Shri Amit Shah said the “10,000 bed centre would provide huge relief to the people of Delhi”. The Union Home Minister said, “I applaud our courageous Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, who would be operating this COVID care facility during these trying times. Their commitment to serve the nation and the people of Delhi is unparalleled”.

For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1634907

Union HRD Minister highlights India's efforts to build resilience into the education system in face of COVID-19

Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' participated in G20 Extraordinary Virtual Education Ministers’ Meeting. This special session has been convened to discuss the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on the education sector, how different nations have dealt with it and how the Member States can collaborate to further the cause of education in these difficult times.In his statement, the Union Minister informed all members about India's efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on all sectors including education.Shri Pokhriyal also shared information about efforts of HRD Ministry to promote digital learning during Covid-19 crisis. He said that we have developed excellent digital educational content over the years. These are available on various platforms like DIKHSA, SWAYAM , Virtual labs, e-PG Pathshala and National Digital Library to name a few.

For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1634853

Shri ArjunMunda launches tribes India products on GeM and new website of TRIFED through video conference

The unprecedented situation in our country due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has affected all segments of our society. The livelihoods of the poor and marginalised communities have been seriously impacted and the tribals are some of the worst affected in these trying times. To ease the burden of the tribal artisans during such troubled times, TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal affairs has initiated several immediate initiatives to re-energise the lagging economic activity for sustaining the livelihood development of tribals. . Addressing a video Conference to launch the Trifed Digital Platforms, Shri ArjunMunda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs said that the Team of “Trifed Warriors” will take Tribal Commerce based on forest produces, handlooms & handicrafts to a new high for transforming tribal lives and livelihoods. He stated that with more and more people going online to meet their various needs, an important strategic push has been to adopt an all-encompassing digitisation drive to map and link its village based tribal producers to the national and international markets setting up state of art e- platforms benchmarked to international standards.

For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1634811

INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Kerala: State Minister for Tourism KadakampallySurendran says the Covid situation in Thiruvananthapuram is extremely serious and he urged all the residents to adhere to the guidelines issued by the government. Meanwhile, five health personnel including two doctors, one nurse and 3 paramedical staff of a private hospital, in Edappal, Malappuram have tested positive for Covid-19; following fears of community transmission, four Panchayats will be made containment zones as the staff were on duty till Saturday. KSRTC closed down its depot in Guruvayur after a conductor attached to it was tested positive for Covid-19. Four more Keralites have lost their lives to the virus outside the state; three in Gulf region & one was in Mumbai. Yesterday, Kerala reported its highest ever count of 195 Covid cases of which 180 were imported cases. Currently 1,939 patients are undergoing treatment and a total of 1,67,978 people are under quarantine across the state.
• Tamil Nadu: A retired cop dies of Covid-19 in Puducherry; 29 fresh cases reported; active cases in the UT stood at 385 with the discharge of 252 patients and death of 11 people so far. TN Covid19 death toll crosses 1,000-mark. The State now has 78,335 cases, of which 44,094 people have recovered as reported yesterday.
• Karnataka: Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said work is in progress to set up facilities with 10,000 beds by Monday evening; private hospitals are instructed to reserve 50% of the beds for Covid-19 treatment. Karnataka announces total lockdown on Sundays starting July 5 as Covid-19 cases spike in state. State recorded a whopping 918 positive cases yesterday which is the biggest single-day spike the state has seen. Total positive cases: 11923, Active cases: 4441, Deaths: 191, Discharges: 7287.
• Andhra Pradesh:Two of the security guards of Deputy Chief Minister K. NarayanaSwamy's residence at Puttur were affected by Covid-19. NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) Vice-Chancellor Shyam Prasad has said theory exams for PG medical and dental students will begin from the first week of August. Covid-19 tally in Andhra Pradesh crossed 13,000 mark. 813 new cases, 401 discharged and 12 deaths reported during last 24 hours after testing 25,778 samples.  Of the 813 cases, 50 are inter-state cases and eight from abroad. Total cases: 13,098, Active cases: 7021, Discharged: 5908, Deaths: 169.
• Telangana: Taking a serious note of discrepancies in the testing for Covid-19 done by private laboratories, Health Minister, E Rajender said notices were issued to several laboratories which were not adhering to the testing guidelines and had discrepancies in their results. Total cases reported yesterday: 13436, Active cases: 8265, Deaths: 243, Recovered: 4928.
• Maharashtra: New Covid 19 cases reported 5,318. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 1,59,133. Number of active cases 67,600. Deaths reported 7,273. Number of people tested so far 8.97 lakh. In Maharashtra, gymnasiums, barber shops, salons and beauty parlours have reopened after a hiatus of three months.
• Gujarat: New cases reported 615. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 30,733. Number of active cases 8,316 Number of deaths reported 1,790. Amdavad Municipal Corporation has slapped a fine of 77 lakh rupees on a city based trust run Hospital. The fine was imposed for not allotting a bed with a ventilator to an advanced stage Covid19 patient for 45 minutes on 18th June, which resulted in the death of the patient.
• Rajasthan: New cases reported 175. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 17,119 Number of active cases 3,297.Recovery rate in Rajasthan 78%, which is the highest in the country. Maximum number of new infections have been reported from Bikaner (44 cases), followed by Jaipur (26 cases) and then Jhunjhunu district (23 cases). 
• Madhya Pradesh: New cases reported 203. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 12,965.  Number of active cases 2,444. Death toll so far 550.
• Chhattisgarh: New cases reported 44. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 3,006.  Number of active cases 696.
• Goa: New cases reported 89. Total number of cases reported in the state so far 1,128.  Number of active cases 706.
• Assam: Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to CM of Assam, SarbanandaSonowal and State Health Minister, HimantaBiswaSarma today and took stock of the alarming situation in Brahmaputra river and landslides near Guwahati; assures of all possible support to the State.
• Manipur: TrueNat testing machine installed at Tamenglong District Hospital in Manipur. This district is the worst affected in the state.Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister of Manipur NemchaKipgen chaired a review meeting on preventing Covid19 transmission amongst the inmates at various Institutional Quarantine Centres.
• Mizoram: Assam Rifles in Mizoram has instituted a novel idea of using umbrellas to ensure social distancing, an effective protective measure against COVID-19. Umbrellas were distributed to economically weak, divyangs and senior citizens of Ngopa, Mimbung, Kawlbem, New Vaikhawtlang and Hnahlan villages.
• Nagaland: 25 new cases of COVID-19 positive have been reported in Nagaland taking the total tally to 412 with 248 active cases while 164 have recovered.

YB