Total COVID-19 cases cross 5 Million, Registers the Highest Recoveries  

India continues to record both high number of COVID-19 cases and a spate of very high recoveries. Total number of cases has crossed 5 million, however, the country logged in the highest number of single day recoveries in the last 24 hours. 82,961 COVID patients were cured and discharged from home/facility isolation and hospitals, steeply pushing the Recovery Rate to 78.53%, according to Union Ministry Data. The 7-day moving average of the Recoveries shows a consistent increase in the recoveries. The total recovered cases stand at 39,42,360. In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra (19423) contributed 23.41% of the new recoveries while the States of Andhra Pradesh (9628), Karnataka (7406), Uttar Pradesh (6680) and Tamil Nadu (5735) contributed 35.5% of the new recoveries. Nearly 59% of the new recoveries came from these five States. There are 9,95,933 active cases in the country as on date. The gap between Recovered and Active cases has crossed 29 lakh today (29,46,427). Recovered Cases are nearly 4 times (3.96) the number of Active Cases. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu compose close to 60% of the Active Cases.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’ extended for another 6 months

The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’ was announced on 30 March 2020 for a period of 90 days. This was extended for a further period of 90 days i.e. up to 25th Sept, 2020.The scheme has now been extended for another 180 days i.e. 6 months.This Central Sector Scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and therefore at risk of being infected. It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19.There is provision made under ‘Pradhan Mantri GaribKalyan Package’ for Health Workers fighting COVID-19. This is a Central Sector scheme. The scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this. It will also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19. The scheme also covers private hospital staff/ retired/volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/ hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities. Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Centre Advisories / Policies / Updates

Results of 2nd national sero survey to be out by September-end: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is on the verge of completing its second national sero survey to check the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) prevalence in the country. The results of the sero survey would be made public by the end of September, said Dr Balram Bhargava, director-general, ICMR. “The second national sero survey is almost done. We have completed the exercise in 68 out of 70 districts, and the analysis is in progress. We should have the results by the end of September,” said Dr Bhargava. 

Three vaccines at clinical trial stage in India, SII to begin Phase 3 trial soon

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Tuesday three vaccine candidates against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) are in the clinical stage of trials in India and one of them will soon begin Phase 3 trials after getting clearances. Covid-19 vaccine candidates being manufactured by Cadila Healthcare and Bharat Biotech have completed the first phase of the trial while the Serum Institute of India (SII) will begin with Phase 3 trial after getting the nod, Balram Bhargava, ICMR’s director general, said during the health ministry’s briefing.

Global Advisories/Policies/Updates

WHO evidence suggests coronavirus spreads through saliva

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha said that the evidence, as stated by the World Health Organisation, suggests the coronavirus spreads through direct, indirect or close contact with infected people through saliva and respiratory secretions, media  reported. “Airborne transmission of the virus can occur in healthcare settings where specific medical procedures, called aerosol-generating procedures, generate very small droplets called aerosol,” Choubey said.

World still 'at the beginning' of pandemic, says WHO special envoy 

The world is still “at the beginning” of the COVID-19 pandemic and is “not even at the middle,” Dr. David Nabarro told an influential group of British politicians Tuesday. Nabarro, a World Health Organization special envoy on COVID-19 and former candidate to lead the organization, spoke in candid terms to the U.K. Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. As well as launching a robust defense of WHO’s conduct at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, he stressed the pandemic’s potential to undo development gains made in recent years and urged the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to help low-income countries deal with the pandemic.

State Advisories / Policies / Updates

Delhi Reports 4,263 Covid Cases In 24 Hours, Over 62,000 Tests Conducted

Delhi's COVID-19 tally mounted to over 2.25 lakh after 4,263 fresh cases were reported on Tuesday, with authorities conducting a record 62,669 tests in the national capital. Thirty-six fatalities pushed the death count in the national capital to 4,806, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department. Three of these 36 deaths are from the previous day.The death count from COVID-19 in Delhi stood at 4,770 on Monday.

Pune: COVID warrior succumbs to virus, family blames doctors 

A COVID-19 warrior, named Munir Ramdurg, helped several people in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area in Pune in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 but sadly passed away on Monday after contracting the virus himself. Ramdurg had become a hero in the region having helped several patients find beds in Pune as well as cremating victims' bodies. When it came to him contracting the virus, sadly the doctors couldn't do much.

Covid-19 reinfection confirmed in 4 Mumbai health workers

Two healthcare workers from a Noida hospital could be India’s first genetically proven cases of Covid reinfection, according to the preprint of a research paper submitted by the prestigious Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratory located in Delhi. Meanwhile four Mumbai health workers have been reinfected with the virus.

Industry Updates

Serum Institute Gets Nod To Resume Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Trial In India

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr VG Somani  has given permission to Serum Institute of India to resume clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the country while revoking its earlier order of suspending any new recruitment for phase two and three trial. The DCGI, however, put certain conditions like taking extra care during screening, providing additional information in informed consent and close monitoring for adverse events during follow-up of the study which have to be "scrupulously" followed by Serum Institute of India (SII).

COVID-19 offers opportunities for Indian Textiles industry to grab Chinese share in developed world market: Ravi Capoor, Secretary, Textiles

Ravi Capoor, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India, today said that COVID-19 has affected the global market conditions but has also opened up new vistas for the Indian textile industry to gain market share of China in the developed world, especially the EU and the US. Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day ‘GLOBIZ – Global Textile & Home Furnishing Expo’, organized by FICCI, Mr Capoor said that this is the most promising time for the textile industry in India due to strong consumption in the domestic market as well as the growing demand for exports. “Various countries are looking at Indian markets and it’s the time to gear up supply chains, quality and deliver at the promised schedules, which will enable India to become a market leader,” he added.

Prepared by Impact Health Research Team

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