Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Through a pre-emptive, proactive and graded response policy, Government of India is taking several steps along with the States/UTs for prevention, containment, and management of COVID-19. Several States have implemented these containment strategies and produced effective outcomes.
The efforts of the Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have shown encouraging results. As part of these efforts, they have actively ‘chased the virus’ and aggressively conducted targeted tracing of COVID suspects in Dharavi, Mumbai. Being densely populated (2,27,136 persons/ sq. km), Dharavi had 491 cases in April 2020 with a 12% growth rate and a case doubling period of 18 days. The proactive measures adopted by BMC reduced the COVID-19 growth rate to 4.3% in May 2020 and further to 1.02% in June. These measures also ensured an improved case doubling time to 43 days in May 2020 and 78 days in June 2020, according to a PIB release.
Maharashtra: Maharashtra recorded 3,874 new COVID-19 cases on June 20, 2020, its highest surge in a day, pushing its tally to 1,28,205. The State also recorded 160 fatalities, its second-highest single-day rise, taking its death toll to 5,984. Nearly 51% of Maharashtra’s cases and 59% deaths are from Mumbai. Maharashtra government has asked hospitals to use oxygen cylinders to provide immediate relief to Covid-19 patients as the state is witnessing a shortage of ventilators. There are only 3,028 ventilators in Maharashtra, which is not adequate considering the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state.
Gujarat: Gujarat reported 539 new Covid-19 cases, the second highest single-day spike, taking the states tally to 26,737.With 20 deaths on June 20, 2020, the state”s death toll has mounted to 1,639, of which Ahmedabad alone has reported 1,315 deaths.
Rajasthan: As many as 154 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Rajasthan on June 21, 2020, morning, taking the state count of positive cases to 14,691. According to the state health department, the highest number of cases on June 21 were reported from Dholpur (59), followed by Jaipur (31) and Jhunjhunu (22). Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has urged PM Narendra Modi to increase employment limit under the MGNREGA from 100 to 200 days which would benefit 70 lakh families in rural areas of the state hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madhya Pradesh: With 142 positive cases reported, the tally of positive patients in Madhya Pradesh reached 11,724. Apart from the new cases, six casualties were also reported in the state on June 20, 2020, taking the total death toll to 501.
Manipur: There are presently 14,983 persons in community quarantine, 5,438 persons in official quarantine centers and 530 persons in paid quarantine facilities.
Kerala: Stringent Covid-19 high alert has been issued in the capital Thiruvananthapuram after an auto driver and his family members tested positive for the virus. Most of his possible contacts, which could be in the range of 80-100, are still unknown. Some areas of the city have been declared containment zones. Meanwhile, the restrictions in Kannur city will be continued till the source of the recent death of a Covid patient, a young driver of Excise department, is found out.
Karnataka: State government authorises local authorities and civic bodies to open public parks outside containment zones, for any number of hours between 5am to 9pm. Even before fixing rates for Covid -19 treatment in private hospitals, the health department directs 518 private medical colleges and hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka to admit and treat Covid patients as per government protocol and criteria. Andhra Pradesh: State likely to impose lockdown in areas worst-hit by coronavirus.
Telangana: Hyderabad-based Hetero has received the manufacturing and marketing approval for the investigational antiviral medicine ‘Remdesivir’ from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of Covid-19. ‘Covifor’ will be available in 100 mg vial (injectable) which has to be administered intravenously under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.