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

India’s Case Fatality Rate (CFR) lowest at 2.15% since 1st Lockdown; Total recoveries nearly 11 lakh; More than 36,500 recovered in last 24 hours

The Case Fatality Rate in the country stands at 2.15% today and it is lowest since the 1^st Lockdown started. It has been continuously reducing from around 3.33% in mid-June.  Successful implementation of effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardized clinical management protocols based on a comprehensive Standard of Care approach have resulted in a consistent addition of more than 30,000 recoveries/day. The total number of recovered cases is nearly 11 lakh. With 36,569 patients discharged in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries have jumped to 10,94,374. The recovery rate stands at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients. The gap between recovered patients and active COVID-19 cases currently stands at 5,29,271. Active cases (5,65,103) are under medical supervision. As on today, there are 1488 dedicated COVID Hospitals, 3231 dedicated COVID Health Centres and 10,755 COVID Care Centres to combat COVID-19 in the country.

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Dr Harsh Vardhan chairs session of Bureau of the Executive Board of WHO

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare presided over a meeting of the Bureau of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), virtually. The Bureau also includes the Vice Chairs of the Executive Board and the Director General of WHO. Recollecting the global crisis COVID 19 has unleashed, he said; “It is about four months ago that the WHO declared the COVID-19 as pandemic. About 17 million people have been infected by COVID-19 and more than 662 thousand precious lives have been lost world wide due to this pandemic. The magnitude of the damages caused to the world economy is also immense.” He further stated “The world has now realised the importance of health and the need for greater cooperation amongst countries to tackle the risks and dangers being posed by innumerable communicable and non-communicable diseases. In the era of globalisation, when the world is a large home to all humanity, the risk and challenge to spread of a disease is even bigger since it does not distinguish between boundaries of countries.” In this regard, Dr Harsh Vardhan urged WHO members “to forge multi-sectoral collaboration to mobilize and galvanize global response, support and cooperation to fight communicable and non-communicable diseases more effectively.” There is a need to explore innovative ways to address new threats and challenges in the post pandemic phase, he added.

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Riding on the heels of falling Case Fatality Rate, the Union Government decides to permit exports of ventilators

The Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19 has considered and agreed to the proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare allowing the export of made-in-India ventilators. This decision has been communicated to the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for further needed action to facilitate the export of indigenously manufactured ventilators. This significant decision comes on the heels of India continuing to maintain a progressively declining low rate of case fatality of COVID-19 patients, which currently stands at 2.15%, which means that fewer numbers of active cases are on ventilators.

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₹ 87,422 crore gross GST revenue collected in July

The gross GST revenue collected in the month of July, 2020 is ₹ 87,422 crore of which CGST is ₹ 16,147crore, SGST is ₹ 21,418 crore, IGST is ₹ 42,592 crore and Cess is ₹7,265 crore. The revenues are 86% of the GST revenues in the same month last year. The revenues for the last month were higher than the current month. However, it is important to note that during the previous month, a large number of taxpayers also paid taxes pertaining to February, March and April 2020 on account of the relief provided due to COVID-19. It may also be noted that the taxpayers with turnover less than ₹ 5 core continue to enjoy relaxation in filing of returns till September 2020.

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Four more States/UTs linked with One Nation One Ration Card scheme today

While taking note of the requisite technical readiness of 4 more States/UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand, the Department of Food & Public Distribution has enabled the integration of these 4 States/UT with existing 20 States/UTs for the National Portability. With this, now a total of 24 States/UTs are connected under One Nation One Ration Card from today w.e.f. 1^st August 2020. One Nation One Ration Card is an ambitious plan and endeavour of DoFPD, to ensure the delivery of food security entitlements to all beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), irrespective of their physical location anywhere in the country, by implementing nation-wide portability of ration cards

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Shri Narendra Singh Tomar expresses satisfaction at good harvest and kharif crop sowing operations despite the coronavirus pandemic

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that agriculture and rural sectors have the inherent capabilities of lifting the country out of any crisis. Expressing satisfaction at the good harvest and kharif crop sowing operations despite the coronavirus pandemic, Shri Tomar said that in future also, rural India and the farming community will play a leading role in achieving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. History is witness to the fact that the country’s farmers and rural economy have never succumbed to any adversity.

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Shri Nitin Gadkari launches Khadi’s Gift Box of Silk Mask

You can now gift your families and friends an attractive gift box of exclusive Khadi Silk Face Masks. Union Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari yesterday launched the Gift Box, developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The gift box consists of four handcrafted silk masks in different colors and prints. The masks are packed in a beautifully crafted handmade paper box in black color with golden embossed printing.

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INPUTS FROM FIELD OFFICES

• Chandigarh: The Administrator, UT Chandigarh, stated that all efforts should be made to detect covid infected persons early, so that timely treatment could be given. He directed Deputy Commissioner to take the help of Volunteers, Resident Welfare Associations to detect such cases. He directed Director General of Police to enforce greater strictness in monitoring visitors from outside, who could be carriers of covid.
• Punjab: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh launched a nutritional drink ‘Verka Haldi Dudh’, produced by Milkfed to boost people’s immunity amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He hoped that it would soon emerge as a popular drink among consumers, who were now looking for alternative ways to stay healthy and boost their immunity in the fight against coronavirus.
• Maharashtra: Covid-19 pandemic has forced the Maharashtra government to consider setting up of a separate slum rehabilitation scheme for urban areas. Slum clusters have proved to be a major challenge for the government in terms of controlling the pandemic's spread. Meanwhile, Dharavi has scripted a remarkable turnaround in the fight against Covid, with active cases declining to just 77 on July 31, down from 531 on the 1st of July.  Maharashtra’s overall case tally is 4,22,118. Active cases in the state on Friday crossed the 1.50 lakh mark and were at 1,50,662. 
• Gujarat: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appreciated the management of Covid-19 in Ahmedabad and suggested to take up various measures being implemented in the city like Dhanvantari Rath, 104 Fever helpline, Sanjeevani van etc. as a case study for rest of India and other countries, according to the state government. Meanwhile, the state reported 1,153 new Covid cases on Saturday.
• Rajasthan: In line with the Unlock 3.0 guidelines, the restrictions on inter-state travel and movement of persons and goods within the state have been removed. Night curfew has also been lifted.
• Madhya Pradesh: The State Government has capped the rate for Covid 10 tests at private laboratories at Rs 1,980. Earlier, the government had capped the rate at Rs 4,500 per sample in accordance with an ICMR circular of March 17. The rates were later reduced and now that RT-PCR kits are being manufactured in the country, it has been fixed at Rs 1,980.The cost includes sample collection, packaging and reporting costs.
• Goa: 209 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Goa on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,913 including 1,657 active cases and 4,211 recovered cases. The death toll is 45.
• Kerala:   Five Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the state today including the first fatality among the State police personnel- a Sub Inspector of Special Branch who was under treatment in Kottayam Medical College - in the State. The DGP has directed that police officers aged above 50 years and also any officers suffering from any diseases should not be assigned Covid duty. A total of 88 police officers were affected with Covid-19 in the state so far. Meanwhile, the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram is closed for two days as part of cleaning and sanitization. A total of 1310 cases were reported in Kerala yesterday, of which 1162 were infected through contact. 10,495 patients are undergoing treatment and 1.43 lakh people under observation across the state.
• Tamil Nadu:  Death toll in Puducherry due to coronavirus spiked to 51 with two more deaths reported on Saturday along with 139 fresh cases; total cases in the UT have risen to 3,593 with 1,357 active cases. Co-morbidities contributed to 82% of Covid deaths in TN; diabetes and hypertension caused 33.36% of deaths till July 29. Tamil Nadu recorded 5,881 fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday, taking the overall tally to 2,45,859, of which 57,968 were active cases. 97 deaths were recorded yesterday taking the total Covid fatalities to 3935.
• Karnataka:  BBMP has booked cases against four hospitals under Disaster Management Act for not providing 50% of beds. Karnataka Agriculture Minister, wife and son-in-law test positive for Covid-19. Bangalore city K.R. market to remain closed till August 31. 5483 new cases, 3130 discharges & 84 deaths reported yesterday; 2220 cases in Bangalore city. Total cases: 1,24,115;  Active cases: 72,005; Deaths: 2314; Discharges: 49,788.
• Andhra Pradesh: Following unlock 3.0 guidelines by the Centre, the inter-State passenger movement is further liberalised. Now, people coming to Andhra Pradesh need only to register in Spandana website and an auto-generated e-pass will be sent to their mobile and email. Former Minister and BJP leader Pydikondala Manikyala Rao succumbs to Covid in Vijayawada today. He was undergoing treatment for the past couple of weeks. Darshan for devotees in the famous Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple at Mangalagiri town in Guntur has been stopped for six days from today in the backdrop of temple staff getting infected with the Covid-19. 10,376 new cases, 3822 discharges and 68 deaths reported yesterday. Total cases: 1,40,933; Active cases: 75,720; Deaths: 1349.
• Telangana: Nearly half of the Covid-19 deaths in Telangana have occurred in people without comorbidities, according to data with the state government. Cabinet meeting on August 5 is expected to discuss about coronavirus, measures to be implemented in the educational sector against the backdrop of coronavirus. 2083 new cases, 1114 recoveries & 11 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; out of 2083 cases, 578 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 64,786; Active cases: 17,754; Deaths: 530; Discharges: 46,502.
• Arunachal Pradesh: In Arunachal Pradesh, 107 new Covid-19 cases were reported. Out of them 38 cases are from Changlang and 22 in the Itanagar capital region (ICR). The total active cases stand at 670 in the state. So far the state of Arunachal Pradesh has recorded 1,591 cases with 918 discharged and three deaths. Total 81,865 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the state.
• Assam: The per day testing in Guwahati of COVID-19 has increased from 2112 on 1st July to 6240 on 31st July. On 4th July total active cases in the city were 777 and on 31st July it was 281.
• Manipur: Manipur records 6th Covid19 related death. Patient was admitted with Diabetes & Hepatitis.
• Mizoram: In Mizoram, Serchhip Battalion of Assam Rifles organised an ‘Awareness Programme on COVID-19’ at Zawlsei village which was attended by 42 people. The programme generated awareness about maintaining social distancing and regular hand washing.
• Nagaland:  In Nagaland, 130 new Covid positive cases have been confirmed out of 552 samples tested.Out of them, 109 cases are from Dimapur & 21 from Kohima. Total positive cases now stand at 1823.
• Sikkim: With 11 news COVID-19 cases, the active cases of COVID-19 reached 400 in Sikkim today.
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