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80% of active COVID-19 cases in India from 5 states: Govt

New Delhi (NVI): COVID-19 outbreak in India is confined to limited areas in the country as 80 per cent of active cases are in just 5 states and more than 60 per cent cases are in just 5 cities, the Government said today.

“Lockdown has mostly achieved its purpose, but it cannot be continued for unlimited time; we need to behave in a manner which makes it difficult for coronavirus to spread. This is the way forward,” Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog & Chairman, Empowered Group 1, said at the daily media briefing here.

“The confinement of COVID-19 to certain areas has been due to the actions taken during lockdown, it enables us to be more prepared for the future,” Dr Paul added during the briefing.

He further added, “We have more than 1 lakh per day testing capacity now. 30 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been given to the states, 109 domestic manufacturers have been enlisted, attaining a capacity of manufacturing 3 domestic PPE lakh per day.”

Dr Paul further stated, “In less than two months, we have ramped up our health infrastructure, 1,093 covid facilities has been set up, around 3,24,000 hospital beds have been prepared for coronavirus treatment, 6,50,000 beds are ready in covid care centres.”

“Aarogya Setu app is an unequalled weapon in our hands to fight COVID-19, the app now has more than 10 crore users,” the Chairman said.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry, said, “The recovery rate has improved to 41 per cent. Mortality rate has reduced from 3.13 per cent on May 19 to 3.02 per cent today.”

In addition to this, approximately 27,55,714 tests have been conducted so far in the country.

PM expresses grief over Pak plane crash

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed grief over the loss of lives in Pakistan plane crash in Karachi in which several people have been reported dead.

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane, with 90 passengers and 8 crew members on board, crashed near Karachi airport today just before landing.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of life due to a plane crash in Pakistan. Our condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured,” PM wrote on Twitter.


The A320 airbus, PK 8303, crashed in Karachi’s Model Colony near Jinnah International Airport, reports The Dawn.

Cyclone Amphan: EU provides $5,45,000 aid for India

New Delhi (NVI): The European Union today announced an initial funding of USD 5,45,000 (500,000 euros) for India to help it cushion the impact of cyclone Amphan that has left a trail of destruction behind in the states of West Bengal and Odisha.

Besides, the EU has also announced a 1,100,000 euros help for Bangladesh (USD 11,98,785.50 approx) to help it deal with the impact of natural disaster that comes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement today, EU Commissioner for crisis management Janez Lenarčič said: “The European Union will address immediate needs of populations affected by the cyclone, as well as protect humanitarian aid and health workers from their exposure to the epidemic.

“The EU is determined to start helping people in need with no further delay and provides an initial funding of €500.000 for India and €1.100.000 to support the immediate response in Bangladesh.”

“We can only imagine the dire state our Indian and Bangladeshi friends are currently in. This storm hits at a time when social distancing remains essential to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus. A crisis on top of a crisis, so to say,” the EU Commissioner said in his statement.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for West Bengal which has been affected by cyclone Amphan.

The Prime Minister also conducted an aerial survey in the affected parts of West Bengal and Odisha today to take stock of the ground situation.

Nearly 80 people have been killed due to the deadly cyclonic storm that swept through several parts of Bengal, including capital Kolkata on Wednesday, with thousands of homes damaged, and trees and electric poles uprooted.

Harsh Vardhan takes charge as WHO Executive Board chairman

New Delhi (NVI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was today elected as Chair of the Executive Board of World Health Organization for the year 2020-21.

He replaced Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, in a virtual meeting held today during the 147th session of the Executive Board.

Accepting the Chair of the Executive Board, Dr Harsh Vardhan paid tribute to the lakhs of people who have lost their lives due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

“I feel deeply honoured to have the trust and faith of all of you. India, and all my countrymen, too, feel privileged that this honour has been bestowed upon us,” he said.

The Health Minister said that Covid-19 is a great human tragedy and the next two decades may see many such challenges. “All these challenges demand a shared response because these are shared threats requiring a shared responsibility to act,” he said.

“While this is the core philosophy of our alliance of member nations that comprise WHO, however, it needs a greater degree of shared idealism of nations,” he said.

During the session, Dr Harsh Vardhan also shared India’s experience of combating COVID-19. “We have a mortality of 3 per cent only. In a country of 1.35 billion, there are only 0.1 million cases of COVID19. The recovery rate is above 40 per cent and the doubling rate is 13 days,” he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan has also been a member of several prestigious committees of WHO like Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) and the Global Technical Consultative Group (TCG) on Polio Eradication. He has also served as an Advisor to the WHO.

The Executive Board of WHO is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year term. The main functions of the Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, and advise and facilitate its work.

Coronavirus cases in Afghanistan cross 9,000 as 542 more test positive

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan reported 542 new confirmed COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total positive cases to 9,216, according to Afghan media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health said, 1,180 suspected cases were tested within the past 24 hours, out of which 542 cases were tested positive for COVID-19.

Among the new cases, 316 were reported in Kabul, 47 in Herat, 24 in Nangarhar, 23 in Takhar, 23 in Baghlan, 19 in Balkh, 18 in Kunar, 15 in Laghman, 15 in Farah, 13 in Ghazni, 5 in Paktia, 3 in Wardak, 1 in Logar, 4 in Kunduz, 8 in Panjshir, 1 in Kapisa, 5 in Daikundi and 2 in Nuristan.

Meanwhile, the highest number of cases has been in Kabul, a city of six million that has been under a lockdown of varying intensity since March 28.

In the past 24 hours, 12 people have died, bringing the death toll to 205, as per media reports.

Over 27,889 samples have been tested so far, which analysts say is too low a number when compared to the country’s population.

The ministry of public health calls on the people to stay at their houses during the Eid festival to prevent from more pandemic, as per media reports.

So far, 990 patients have been cured or discharged across the country.

COVID-19 cases surpass 30,000-mark in Bangladesh

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Bangladesh has reached 432 after 24 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 30,205 after 1,694 new infections were reported during this period.

In the last 24 hours, 588 coronavirus-infected people made full recovery in the country which raised the total number of recoveries to 6,190.

47 coronavirus testing laboratories across the country have tested 9,727 samples during this period.

Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Nasima Sultana said, “17 private hospitals and diagnostic centers have been authorised to conduct RT-PCR test to detect COVID-19 infection.”

Coronavirus cases surpass 51,000 in Pakistan; 1,071 dead

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive coronavirus cases in Pakistan has increased by more than 2,500, taking the overall tally to 51,653 with at least 1,071 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 20,883 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 18,455 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 7,155 cases, Balochistan is at 3,074, Gilgit-Baltistan at 602, Islamabad at 1,326 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 158 cases so far, according to Geo News.

So far, 15,201 people have recovered from the malignant virus in the country.

Meanwhile, a special flight of Emirates carrying 251 stranded Pakistanis arrived at Islamabad International Airport today from Dubai.

Nepal reports 20 new coronavirus cases, total climbs to 507

New Delhi (NVI): Nepal has confirmed 20 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 507 across the country, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said the infections were confirmed through tests carried out at the laboratories of Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi and Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj.

Among the new cases, 14 cases have been found in Banke, three in Kailali, one each in Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Morang

Three men from Janaki village of Kailali who were infected, are 19, 23 and 26 years old. According to the ministry, all the three are in the quarantine.

Likewise, a 28-year-old man from Parashuram-10 in Dadeldhura has been confirmed to be infected. He is undergoing treatment at Dadeldhura Hospital.

Similarly, a 22-year-old man from Baitadi district has been found infected.

Of the total infected people, 433 are male and 74 are female.

Earlier today, 30 new coronavirus cases were confirmed that took the tally to 487, as per media reports.

Meanwhile, 42,488 tests have been carried out in the country through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method and 82,116 though Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) so far.

However, three persons have died so far from coronavirus and 70 recovered in Nepal.

Pakistan airlines flight with over 90 on board crashes in Karachi

(File/Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane, with 90 passengers and 8 crew members on board, crashed near Karachi airport today just before landing.

Several people are feared dead in the crash. The A320 airbus, PK 8303, crashed in Karachi’s Model Colony near Jinnah International Airport, reports The Dawn. The rescue operation is underway and the injured are being taken to hospitals.

PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik told the Pakistan daily that the pilot told the control room that there was a technical issue. He decided to go around rather than land even though two runways were ready for landing, Malik was quoted as saying by the paper.

According to local media reports, the plane fell in a populated area. A video footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the site of the crash and some residential houses damaged.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Minister of Health & Population Welfare has declared emergency in all major hospitals of Karachi due to the plane crash, according to Meeran Yousuf, the media coordinator to the Sindh health minister.

NTPC, ONGC sign MoU to form joint venture for renewable energy

New Delhi (NVI): Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and NTPC Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a Joint Venture Company for Renewable Energy business, the Ministry of Power said today.

The MoU will enable both companies to accelerate their footprint in Renewable Energy, the ministry said in a statement.

“As per the MoU, NTPC and ONGC will explore the setting up of offshore wind and other Renewable Energy Projects in India and overseas. They shall also explore opportunities in the fields of sustainability, storage, E-mobility and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliant projects,” read a statement by Power ministry.

At present, NTPC has 920 MW of installed renewable power projects in its portfolio and about 2300 MW of renewable energy projects under construction. With this tie-up, NTPC would accelerate its RE capacity addition program and also expand its footprint in offshore wind and overseas Renewable Energy projects. This will help India’s largest power generator achieve its ambitious target of 32 GW of Renewable Energy Projects by 2032, the ministry said.

ONGC has a renewable portfolio of 176 MW comprising of 153 MW wind power and 23 MW of solar. This development will enhance the presence of ONGC in the Renewable Power business and enable its ambition to add 10 GW of renewable power to its portfolio by 2040.

With NTPC Group’s total installed 62110 MW capacity, NTPC has 70 Power stations comprising of 24 Coal, 7 combined cycle gas/liquid fuel, 1 Hydro, 13 renewables along with 25 JV Power Stations, the ministry said.

The MoU was signed by AK Gupta, Director (Commercial) NTPC and Shri Subhash Kumar, Director (Finance) and In-charge Business Development and Joint Venture, ONGC.

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