Updates on COVID-19

Government of India is taking several steps for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 through a collective effort with the States/UTs. These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare yesterday held a video conference with health functionaries and senior officials as well as field officers of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the containment measures for COVID-19 in India in presence of Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan was apprised that WHO officers working at district level are doing technical coordination for the development of Micro Plans for clusters and outbreak containment with States/UT officials and also helping them in devising a strategy for continued surveillance of districts. WHO’s national polio surveillance network team will support Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to further strengthen the ongoing surveillance and response based on transmission scenarios & testing of cases.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also held an interaction with Indian industry leaders organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) where he thanked them for contributing to the PM-CARES fund. He assured them that the Government is aware of the difficulties faced by them and allayed their concerns with respect to measures being undertaken for revival of the economy. He also encouraged them to make best use of the Make in India opportunities in healthcare posed by COVID-19 so that the country comes out more resilient and self-reliant in providing critical health care equipment.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a public advisory for safe drinking water practices during the lockdown. The public health departments has been advised to augment water supplies with special focus on relief camps and for vulnerable sections of the society. Appropriate use of chlorine tablets, bleaching powder and hypochlorite solution is also advised.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also issued a detailed guideline to all the States / UTs on enabling delivery of essential health care services to meet the unprecedented demand on the current healthcare system during the outbreak. These services include maternal child health, prevention and management of communicable health diseases, treatment of chronic diseases to avoid complications and addressing emergencies. It is also been advised that these services should be provided while ensuring safety for healthcare workers. Besides COVID-19 dedicated facilities, remaining facilities shall continue providing such services with the help of Not for profit and the private sector. Tele-health services should be promoted to prevent overcrowding.

It has also been suggested that the services such as immunization and ante-natal care should be reorganised during the period of lockdown or restrictions and days can be fixed for such services duly adhering to physical distancing and other prevention of infection protocol. Pregnant women, children with SAM (Severe and Acute Malnourishment), TB, leprosy, HIV, viral hepatitis, COPD, dialysis should be followed through the primary health care team at Sub Health Centre and Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs).

As of today, 12,380 confirmed cases and 414 deaths for COVID-19 have been reported in the country. As many as 1489 persons have been cured/discharged after recovery. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of COVID-19 cases in India is 3.3%.  The percentage of people recovered, so far, is 12.02%

As of now, 325 districts have not reported any cases. Mahe, Puducherry has not reported any fresh positive case since the last 28 days. The following districts have not reported any new case during the last 14 days:

State	No. of Districts	Name of the District(s)
Bihar	1	Patna
West Bengal	1	Nadia
Rajasthan	1	Pratapgarh
Gujarat	2	Gir Somnath, Porbandar
Telangana	1	Bhadradari Kothagudem
Goa	1	South Goa
Uttarakhand	1	Pauri  Garhwal
UP	1	Pilibhit
J&K	1	Rajouri
Manipur	1	Imphal West
Chhattisgarh	3	Bilaspur, Durg & Rajnandgaon, Raipur
Mizoram	1	Aizawl West
Karnataka	5	Davangere, Kodaggu, Tumkur, Udupi & Bellary
Kerala	2	Wayanad & Kottayam
Punjab	2	SBS Nagar Hoshiarpur (29-03-2020)
Haryana	2	Panipat Rohtak (30-03-2020)
Madhya Pradesh	1	Shivpuri District

For all authentic & updated information on COVID-19 related technical issues, guidelines & advisories please regularly visit: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/.

Technical queries related to COVID-19 may be emailed at technicalquery.covid19@gov.in and other queries on ncov2019@gov.in .

In case of any queries on COVID-19, please call at Ministry of Health & Family Welfare helpline no. : +91-11-23978046 or 1075 (Toll-free). List of helpline numbers of States/UTs on COVID-19 is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/coronvavirushelplinenumber.pdf .

Courtesy: pib.gov.in