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

India’s 60% Total Cases in 5 Most Affected States

A total of 95,735 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. 60% of the total cases are reported from only five States. Maharashtra has alone contributed more than 23,000 and Andhra Pradesh has contributed more than 10,000. The total number of active cases in the country stands at 9,19,018, as on date. More than 74% of the Total Active Cases are in 9 most affected States. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh presently contribute 49% of total active cases. Maharashtra is leading this tally with more than 2,50,000 whereas Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow with more than 97,000 each. A total of 1,172 deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours. 32% of deaths reported yesterday are from Maharashtra with 380 deaths followed by Karnataka with 128 deaths, and Tamil Nadu with 78 deaths. Of the total deaths, 69% are concentrated in five States/UT of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.

For details:

Health Ministry urges States/UTs to Mandatorily retest all Symptomatic Negative Cases of Rapid Antigen Tests through RT-PCR

Union Health Ministry has noted that in some large States, symptomatic negative cases tested by Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) are not being followed up by RT-PCT testing. The Guidelines of ICMR as well as the Union Health Ministry clearly state that the following two specific categories of persons must necessarily be retested through RT-PCR tests:  All symptomatic (fever or cough or breathlessness) negative cases of RAT and Asymptomatic negative cases of RAT that develop symptoms within 2 to 3 days of being tested negative. In this background, the Union Health Ministry and ICMR have jointly written to all the States/UTs and urged them to ensure that the all symptomatic negative cases of RAT are mandatorily retested using the RT-PCR test. This is necessary to ensure that such symptomatic negative cases do not remain untested and do not spread the disease among their contacts. It has also been reiterated in the joint letter that while the RAT is being used to increase access and availability of testing in the field, RT-PCR remains the gold standard of COVID tests. The Union Health Ministry has also urged the States/UTs to urgently establish a monitoring mechanism in every district (a designated officer or a team) and at the State level to follow up such cases. They have also been advised to undertake an analysis on a regular basis to monitor the incidence of positives during the RT-PCR tests conducted as a follow up.

For details:

73rd session of WHO South East Asia Region-Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses the Ministerial Round Table Session on COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare attended the73rd session of WHO South East Asia Region through video conference, here today. Representing India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan offered two interventions in the ministerial round table session on COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness. He first spoke on the three important interventions that were applied to manage COVID – 19 and maintain essential non – COVID health services in India. He later expounded on the strategies that are being applied to ensure that there are increased investments in health and health emergency preparedness and response as well as in International Health Regulation core capacities to prevent future pandemics, in the second round of interventions. Speaking on India’s public health measures to prevent and contain spread of SARS nCoV - 2 since January 2020, he outlined the measures undertaken by the Government of India.

For details:

73rd session of WHO South East Asia Region- Member States adopt Declaration on the collective response to COVID-19 in South-East Asia Region

At the conclusion of the 73^rd session of WHO South East Asia Region held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Thailand, the Health Ministers of the member states agreed to the SEAR Member States’ Declaration on the collective response to COVID-19 in South-East Asia Region.

For details:

Telephone Conversation between Prime Minister and His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on phone with His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The two leaders exchanged views on the global challenges in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the leadership provided by Saudi Arabia during its ongoing Presidency of the G20 grouping. The leaders agreed that the initiatives taken at the level of the G20 had helped in promoting a coordinated response to the pandemic. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia, and committed to further strengthen cooperation in all areas. Prime Minister expressed his special thanks to His Majesty King Salman for the support provided to Indian expatriates by the Saudi authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For details:

Chairman, Rajya Sabha conducts mock session of the House to ensure a smooth beginning of Monsoon Session

Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, yesterday took stock of the entire gamut of special arrangements put in place for holding the Monsoon Session of Parliament summoned from Monday, the 14^th September. A mock session of the House was conducted, with him in the Chair, and the Chamber and the four galleries of the House occupied by the staff of the Secretariat as per the seating arrangements already earmarked keeping in view the social distancing norms. Staff members were also made to sit in and participate from the Chamber of the Lok Sabha, which becomes a part of the House for the entire session. Chairman, Shri Naidu, expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made. Shri Naidu advised the senior officials of the Secretariat to ensure that all the guidelines issued by the Ministries of Home and Health & Family Welfare have to be followed very scrupulously. He also directed the officials to remind Hon’ble Members through an advisory about the health protocols to be observed by them before and during the upcoming session.

For details:

Finance Minister unveils Doorstep Banking Services and declares EASE 2.0 Index Results

Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday inaugurated Doorstep Banking Services by PSBs and participated in the awards ceremony to felicitate best performing banks on EASE Banking Reforms Index. As part of the EASE Reforms, Doorstep Banking Services is envisaged to provide convenience of banking services to the customers at their door step through the universal touch points of Call Centre, Web Portal or Mobile App. Customers can also track their service request through these channels. The services shall be rendered by the Doorstep Banking Agents deployed by the selected Service Providers at 100 centres across the country. At present only non-financial services viz. Pick up of negotiable instruments (cheque / demand draft / pay order, etc.), Pick up new cheque book requisition slip, Pick up of 15G / 15H forms, Pick up of IT / GST challan, Issue request for standing instructions, Request for account statement, Delivery of non-personalised cheque book, demand draft, pay order, Delivery of term deposit receipt, acknowledgement, etc., Delivery of TDS / Form 16 certificate issuance, Delivery of pre-paid instrument / gift card are available to customers. Financial services shall be made available from October 2020. The services can be availed by customers of Public Sector Banks at nominal charges.

 For details:

Ayush-based Nutrition Solutions to be highlighted in the Poshan Maah observation

Nutrition solutions based on traditional healthcare wisdom will be an integral part of the Poshan Maah celebrations during the month of September 2020. This will further accelerate various activities under POSHAN Abhiyaan, while adhering to COVID-19 protocols. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is the Prime Minister’s overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment, and was launched by him on 8^th March, 2018. Experts from indigenous systems of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani will be co-opted to provide guidance on good nutrition, complementary feeding etc. The Ministry of AYUSH will initiate and coordinate special measures for this, through the network of its Autonomous Bodies as well as through Stake-holders like Ayush Educational Institutions. The Ministry will customise its ongoing awareness campaign during the month by focusing on the theme “Ahara” which is directly related to the subject of nutrition, and reach out to the public with targeted messages.

For details:

DST’s journey of catalyzing innovation, entrepreneurship and incubation report launched

A report on the journey of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) in catalyzing innovation, entrepreneurship, and incubation was launched by the Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Professor Ashutosh Sharma at an online programme earlier this week. The report also indicates a fivefold increase in investments raised by the seed supported startups as a follow on funding from angels, venture capitals, and other stakeholders with significant valuation gains. Overall, NSTEDB approach has leveraged the technological strength of the higher learning institutes to the benefit of the startups through a network of academic incubators seeded and supported by it. It has led to an effective incubation support system that led to success of these fledgling startups. The collective strength and power of NIDHI program, the DST Incubator network and its startups was tested successfully during the COVID 19 pandemic through the Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH) program by supporting various solutions to resolve the crisis.

For details:

INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Arunachal Pradesh: 147 new COVID-19 positive cases detected in Arunachal Pradesh while 183 recovered and were discharged. There are 1,630 active cases.
• Assam: In Assam, 2,265 patients are discharged yesterday. Total discharged patients 1,03,504 & active patients 29,163, State Health Minister informed.
• Manipur: 160 more persons test COVID-19 positive in Manipur. There were 64 recoveries with 75 percent recovery rate. There are 1,774 active cases.
• Meghalaya: In Meghalaya, 107 individuals have recovered from coronavirus yesterday. Total active cases 1,355, total BSF and Armed Forces 280, total others 1,075 & total recovered 1,823.
• Mizoram: 141 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Mizoram yesterday. Total cases 1,333, active cases 583.
• Nagaland: Nagaland govt. issues revised SOPs for returnees and travellers in supersession of all earlier SOPs. Points of entry to state identified. Of Nagaland's 130 fresh positive cases detected on Wednesday, 64 cases are in Kohima, 63 in Dimapur, 2 in Mon & 1 in Mokokchung.
• Sikkim: Sikkim recorded 31 new COVID-19 positive cases; the State’s active
• Covid tally is now 527. So far, 1,470 persons in Sikkim have been discharged
• from various Covid care centres. Total confirmed cases stand at 1,989.
• Maharashtra: The state reported an all-time high of 23,816 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday and with that, the state’s tally has now climbed to 9,67,349. Also, 325 people succumbed to the infection, taking the death toll due to COVID-19 in the state to 27,732 and the number of active cases to  2,52,734 as per the latest information shared by the state health department.   Mumbai on Wednesday reported 2,227 new cases and with that, the case count of the Maximum City climbed to 1,60,744. Also, 43 patients succumbed to the virus taking the death toll to 7,982. On the contrary, as many as 1,26,745 patients have recovered till date and the number of active cases in the city is now pitched at 25,659.
• Gujarat:  The state BJP president and Navsari MP C R Paatil, has tested positive for Covid-19. Gujarat reported 1,329 new cases on Wednesday and the state has an active case load of 16,296.
• Madhya Pradesh:  In Madhya Pradesh, Covid recovery rate has improved to 76 per cent.  The fatality rate has also come down to 1.4 per cent from 2.4 per cent.  Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state climbed up to 79,192 after record 1,869 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours. There are now 17,702 active cases in the state.
• Goa: The 250 bed Covid treatment facility at the South Goa District Hospital in Goa will start functioning from Friday. The Goa Government took decision to convert 250 of 500 beds in the Madgaon hospital as a direct consequence to the spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the state. Presently there is an active Covid case load of 4,833 patients who are being treated at the ESI Hospital in Madgaon, Goa Medical College Hospital in Bambolim near Panaju and the Sub-District Hospital in Ponda.
• Kerala: State Health Minister K.K. Shylaja has warned that the Covid-19 death toll in the State may go up with further lifting of restrictions. She pointed out that if the infection spreads more, then ventilators could become scarce as already there is a shortage of the equipment. The Minister urged that precaution should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease in colonies. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called an all-party meeting tomorrow to reach a consensus on cancelling the by-election to two assembly seats. Meanwhile, three more people succumbed to the virus in the state today taking the death toll to 387. Kerala recorded a new high of Covid-19 cases yesterday with 3,402 new infections. At present, 24,549 patients are undergoing treatment and a total of 2.02 lakh people are under observation across the state.
• Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that any decision on reopening of schools in the State would be taken considering the preparedness of the parents. No online classes for school students in Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 25. Tamil Nadu School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said a vacation for students has been planned to help reduce their stress levels. 5,584 persons tested positive in Tamil Nadu yesterday with 6,516 getting discharged; State recorded 78 deaths, taking its toll to 8,090; 14 districts see 100-plus cases.
• Karnataka: State Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan tests positive for Covid-19. The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the state-level expert committee on Covid to submit a report regarding facilities at private hospitals and Covid Care Centres. The government is further ramping up testing facilities to contain Covid, that is fast spreading to small towns, even as cities too continue to report a high number of cases. Oxford vaccine trials halted in UK, but JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research in Mysuru where the trials are going fine, is awaiting correspondence regarding the continuation of the trial.
• Andhra Pradesh:  Visakhapatnam district was ranked first in a survey conducted on the facilities being provided in 19 specified areas of Covid hospitals across the state. Medical and Health Department conducted the survey in government as well as private hospitals, in the areas of doctors in the ICU, oxygen beds, discharges, food, sanitation, infrastructure, beds, etc.  The Nellore district administration has deployed a 'Sanjeevini' bus at the Sriharikota space centre to beef-up Covid-19 testing, as 47 fresh Covid cases were reported in Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Wednesday.
• Telangana: Covid-19 cases in Telangana breach 1.5 lakh mark with 2534 new cases,  2071 recoveries &  11 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; out of 2534 cases,  327 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 1,50,176; Active cases: 32,106; Deaths: 927; Discharges :1,17,143. The Telangana government which has unveiled the first ever incentive programme for Covid-19 warriors in the country might continue the additional financial benefit for a few more months. The State government will constitute a task force to rein in private hospitals, which are fleecing Covid-19 patients, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said in the Assembly today.

FACTCHECK

***

YB