Eight states account for 86% corona cases, 87% deaths

Eight states account for 86% corona cases, 87% deaths

61% Daily Case Growth From Maha, Delhi, TN

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:

Eight states — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal — contributed 85.5% of the active Covid-19 caseload and 87% of total deaths due to the disease in India, indicating where the main challenge in combating the disease lies.

The data was shared by the health ministry with the group of ministers (GoM) on Covid-19, which met for the 17th time on Saturday and asked states to ramp-up testing and reach full national testing capacity of three-lakh samples a day.

Health minister Harsh Vardhan, who chaired the meeting, said the doubling time of Covid-19 cases has improved to 19 days from three days before the lockdown even as with the worst singleday jump of 18,552 cases, total Covid-19 cases surged to around 5 lakh on Saturday.

Dexamethasone can be used for treatment

The government on Saturday revised the clinical management protocol for treating Covid-19 patients to allow use of commonly used steroid dexamethasone—the first drug to show improved survival in severe Covid patients in recent trials by Oxford University. Research findings show dexamethasone lowers fatality in those needing oxygen by 20% and by 35% in those on a ventilator. Dexamethasone is under government price control, which makes it highly affordable. A strip of 20-tablets of 0.5 mg each is priced at Rs 6.38. P 7

CORONA BATTLE

India now has 1,026 diagnostic labs dedicated to Covid-19

Though total new cases are rapidly adding up to India’s total tally, data shows the daily rise in fresh cases is driven by some states, officials said.

Vardhan said with focused efforts to improve clinical management, recovery rate is also constantly improving. On Saturday, India recorded recovery rate of 58.13% with around 3 lakh people cured of Covid-19 so far. The fatality rate is near 3%.

TOI reported on Friday that a “natural recession” is to be seen in the Covid-19 pandemic in India with share of active cases – that are current carriers of the coronavirus infection and have a potential to spread it – declining steadily in the last two weeks. The daily rise in fresh cases is being primarily driven by three states – Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu – accounting for 61% of the daily case growth.

In an attempt to customise its containment efforts and take steps in focused manner, the health ministry has deployed 15 central teams consisting of public health experts, epidemiologists and a senior joint secretarylevel officer to provide support to the states, the ministry informed the GoM.

Another central team is currently visiting Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana to strengthen ongoing efforts for management of Covid-19, it said.

The GoM also discussed the utility of ITIHAS and Aarogya Setu App in contact-tracing and prediction of potential hotspot areas.

Balram Bhragava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research informed the GoM that the samples tested in the last 24 hours have increased to 2,20,479 taking the total cumulative number of samples tested, as on date, to 79,96,707. Tests per day being conducted in India are, however, lesser than daily testing capacity of three-lakh samples.

India now has1,026 diagnostic labs dedicated to Covid-19. This includes 741 in the government sector and 285 private labs, but their capacity remains under used.

The GoM was also apprised of the current Covid-related health infrastructure. According to the data shared, there are 1,039 dedicated Covid hospitals with 1,76,275 isolation beds, 22,940 ICU beds and 77,268 oxygen-supported beds, the ministry said. Also, 2,398 dedicated Covid Health Centres with 1,39,483 isolation beds, 11,539 ICU beds and 51,321 oxygen-supported beds have been operationalised.

Moreover, 8,958 Covid Care Centres with 8,10,621 beds are now available in the country. The Centre has provided 185.18 lakh N95 masks and 116.74 lakh personal protective equipment to the states, UTs and central institutions. TNN

Postgraduates of Kilpauk Medical College help feed the homeless during complete lockdown

Postgraduates of Kilpauk Medical College help feed the homeless during complete lockdown

Serena Josephine M.CHENNAI, JUNE 27, 2020 23:05 IST

UPDATED: JUNE 27, 2020 23:05 IST

.Postgraduate students from Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital distributing food. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

They prepare extra food and distribute it themselves

Amid the lockdown and increasing COVID-19 cases, a group of postgraduate students of Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital have taken time out to share a meal with the homeless.

Since the city came under a 12-day complete lockdown last week, the PG students have been pooling money to cook extra food at their hostel mess and are distributing breakfast for 50 homeless persons. They take the food parcels in their own vehicle and distribute the meal to persons living on the roads and streets in and around Kilpauk.

“Around 80 of us have come together for this initiative. When the city came under complete lockdown for COVID-19 control, we decided to pool in money to prepare extra food at the mess. For the past four days, we have been taking 40 to 50 parcels and distributing them to homeless and differently abled persons living on the roads in and around Kilpauk,” said Somumurthy Nagarajan, a third-year postgraduate student of KMC.

“On normal days, they may get help from passers-by and get food as shops will be open. But this may be difficult during the lockdown. We will continue to do this till June 30,” he added. Depending on their duty schedule, they take turns distributing the meals.

Noting that it was their small way of reaching out to the needy, the doctors said the homeless needed help during this lockdown, and even the smallest effort brought smiles on their faces.

COVID Duty In Punjab: Honorarium Of Rs 1.10 Lakh Set For MBBS Doctors

COVID Duty In Punjab: Honorarium Of Rs 1.10 Lakh Set For MBBS Doctors

By Medical Dialogues Bureau

Published On 27 Jun 2020 12:41 PM 

He said the decision has been taken to enhance the manpower resources for ensuring quality treatment for the patients inflicted with Coronavirus. He said the state government has decided to enhance the monthly honorarium for the medical staff being hired for this purpose. 

Jalandhar - Gearing up for combating the Covid-19 pandemic more efficiently, Deputy Commissioner Mr Ghanshyam Thori on Thursday announced enhancing the honorarium for medical and para-medical staff to be hired for operationalizing additional beds in the COVID Care Centres (CCC). The Deputy Commissioner said Honorarium for Medical Officer MBBS would be Rs 1.10 lakh, that for Dental Doctor BDS would be Rs 80,000, Ayurvedic Medical Officer would be Rs 60,000, Para Medical Staff (Neuro, Lab Technician and Pharmacist) would be Rs 35,000 and Ward Attendant would be Rs 25,000. 

He said the interested candidate could apply on 0181-2224848, 99888 78866 or email ID csjal33@gmail.com . Describing it a national service, Mr. Thori asked the qualified medical and non-medical staff to come forward for this duty. He said the decision has been taken to enhance the manpower resources for ensuring quality treatment for the patients inflicted with Coronavirus. He said the state government has decided to enhance the monthly honorarium for the medical staff being hired for this purpose.

Mr. Thori also said minimum contractual period would be of three months with a provision of extension based on need. The Deputy Commissioner said the hiring would be done under District Disaster Management Authority and Honararium would be disbursed by district administration out of the State Disaster Relief Fund. He said walk-in interviews would be organised for the applicants applying for these posts.

He said preference would be given to MBBS doctors and in case they were not available BDS Docs would be hired and in case they were also not available Ayurvedic Medical Officers would be hired.

https://medicaldialogues.in/state-news/punjab/covid-duty-in-punjab-honorarium-of-rs-110-lakh-for-mbbs-doctors-set-67091

Andhra Pradesh To Establish 16 New Medical Colleges, Confirms CM Reddy

Andhra Pradesh To Establish 16 New Medical Colleges, Confirms CM Reddy

By MD Bureau 

Published On 27 Jun 2020 6:16 PM | Updated On 27 Jun 2020 6:16 PM 

Andhra Pradesh: At a time when several initiatives are taken by central and state governments amid coronavirus pandemic, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a significant step in the field of medical education. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy recently had a press conference where he confirmed that the state will be getting 16 new medical colleges. CM made the announcement after he had a meeting with the district collectors and high officials. 

Earlier, the health minister had announced that 16 new medical colleges will be constructed within the next three years in Andhra Pradesh. Previously Medical Dialogues team reported that identifying the increasing need of trained and specialized Healthcare workers in the medical facilities in the agency localities of the district, Mr. Krishna Srinivas, the state health minister stated: "a proposal for offering special package and incentive will be discussed with the Chief Minister Mr. Y.S Jaganmohan Reddy soon to ensure availability of the adequate number of doctors in the agency areas". Considering the same conditions, initiatives are made by the state government to build up new medical colleges. Apparently these new 16 medical colleges are supposed to come to existence with prompt action. 

During the recent press conference, the state CM informed that they are going to build more medical colleges so that in each of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, at least one medical college will be available. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said 16 new medical colleges will be established in the State in addition to the existing 11.

Currently, there are only 11 colleges in the area Andhra Medical College at Visakhapatnam, Guntur Medical College, Guntur Siddartha Medical College, Osmania Medical College at Hyderabad, Gandhi Medical College at Secunderabad, Rangaraya Medical College, S.V. Medical College at Tirupathi, Government Medical College of Anantapur, Kakatiya Medical College of Warangal, Kurnool Medical College of Kurnool and Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati.

The collectors were instructed to find 50 acres of land appropriate for the proposed medical colleges and to hand it over to the department concerned. They were also asked to complete the distribution of 22 lakh QR Health Cards at the earliest. The health minister has already inspected some areas which are suggested for the construction of the medical colleges. He visited a 59-acre site for the proposed medical college at Paderu and another 32-acre site for a proposed medical college at Golagam in Anakapalle constituency, reported a daily. A potential place is also identified in Adoni for the construction of a medical college which will be an addition to the existing Medical college in Kurnool, reports TNIE.

https://medicaldialogues.in/state-news/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-to-establish-16-new-medical-colleges-confirms-cm-reddy-67119

Exams for PG medical students from August

Exams for PG medical students from August

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.

Published: 28th June 2020 08:45 AM 

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: 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.

“The Medical Council of India has also liberalised guidelines for the conduct of the exams. Until now, it was mandatory for the examiners to be outside of AP, but now we can have our own examiners. For instance if a specific exam needs four examiners, then three can be from the State.

The official from other State need not even come to AP as the viva voce can be conducted online,” he said. Speaking at a meeting here on Saturday, he observed the role of psychiatrists has increased during the coronavirus pandemic as around 700 PG students of psychiatry branch took part in the session.

COVID-19 effect: CM urges PM to back State on cancelling final exams

COVID-19 effect: CM urges PM to back State on cancelling final exams

‘Issue relevant instructions to apex bodies conducting professional courses’

27/06/2020

Safe option: The State has decided not to hold final year exams of non-professional courses and professional courses File PhotoAtish Pomburfekar

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct relevant apex bodies to cancel final year/semester exams of professional courses in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a letter dated June 25, the Chief Minister said, “Considering the current COVID-19 situation, the State Disaster Management Authority, in a meeting on June 18, decided not to conduct final year/semester examinations of non-professional as well as professional courses, and award degrees to students based on a formula to be decided by universities.”

“Further, an option would be given to students who want to take examinations whenever they are held,” he said. Mr. Thackeray told Mr. Modi that it was also decided to get the decision on professional courses endorsed by the respective apex authorities as these are regulated by national level apex bodies like All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Council for Architecture (COA), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Bar Council of India (BCI), National Council For Teachers Education (NCTE), and National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT).

“I request you to instruct the national-level apex authorities to endorse the decision of the State government regarding cancellation of final year/final semester examinations of professional courses and to issue necessary guidelines to universities in this regard,” Mr. Thackeray said in the letter.

He added that students and parents are concerned about the final year/semester examinations of the academic year 2019-20 and commencement of the next academic year in view of the prevailing crisis. “The present atmosphere caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is not conducive to conduct examinations or classes in educational institutes,” the Chief Minister said in the letter.

‘Need uniform guidelines’

Requesting Mr. Modi to issue uniform guidelines, the CM tweeted that Maharashtra Government has taken a decision to not conduct the final year/final semester examination of non-professional courses as well as professional courses as the present atmosphere is not yet conducive to conduct any examination or classes.

International flights suspended till July 15

International flights suspended till July 15

27/06/2020

Anisha Dutta

letters@hindustantimes.com

New Delhi : The suspension of international commercial flights to and from India was extended from June 30 till July 15, an order by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday. The restrictions will not apply to international cargo operations and flights approved by DGCA, the order said.

The regulator, however, said that “international scheduled flights may be allowed on select routes by competent authority on a case-to-case basis”.

This comes a week after Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri said the decision to resume of international passenger flights will depend on demand and other countries being open to receiving flights.

“We can start regular international flights when our domestic traffic reaches about 50-60% and other countries open up to international traffic without present conditionalities,” Puri said on June 20. India may resume international flights on routes with higher demand first, he said.

India suspended international passenger flights on March 22 before the first phase of the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25.

The government is currently running the third phase of its repatriation programme, Vande Bharat Mission, to evacuate Indians stranded abroad.

For Phase 3, private domestic airlines were mandated to operate 750 international flights along with 300 Air India flights that will be added soon, according to the aviation ministry.

The government is also planning to allow air carriers from other countries to allow transportation of passengers like Air India under the Vande Bharat Mission. India is also planning to operate bilateral agreements with limited flights operating between two countries with countries including US, UK, Germany and France.

“As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon,” the ministry said on Tuesday.

Suspension of international flights due to Covid-19 hurt the aviation industry badly. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that travel and tourism accounts for 10.3% of global GDP and 300 million jobs globally.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) the financial outlook for the global air transport industry shows that airlines are expected to lose $84.3 billion in 2020 for a net profit margin of -20.1%