Covid Speed Read: FinMin grants Rs 6k-cr to 14 states; IIP contracts 10.4%
The government on Friday has granted Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states to provide additional resources against Covid-19 pandemic. The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) released the first national seroprevalence survey as the health ministry initiates an exercise with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to document data on post-Covid-19 complications. ETCFO gets you these updates and more.
Shivani Phaugat
Updated: September 12, 2020, 11:36 IST
The government on September 10, 2020, released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the sixth equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant. This is the 6th instalment since the outbreak. The grants have been released to states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Covid-19: the current count in India
On Saturday morning, India's total tally of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases was at 4,659,984 although 3,624,196 people have recovered and 77,506 have died due to the virus, as per the latest update by the Health Ministry. The recovery rate for India has surged to 77.6% and case fatality rate has declined to 1.67%. Worldwide, the virus has infected 28,663,127 people and killed 919,797.
Covid relief instalments
In a bid to provide additional resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government granted Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states as monthly instalment of post devolution revenue deficit grant. This is the sixth instalment since the outbreak. The grants have been released to states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
"The government on September 10, 2020, released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the sixth equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission. This would provide them additional resources during the Corona crisis," tweeted the Office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A similar amount was released as grant in April-August period of the current financial year to meet Covid-induced expenses.
National sero-prevalence survey
A sero-prevalence study, from May 11 to June 4 was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR), found that 6,468,388 or 0.73% of the nation's population were likely Covid-19 infected around May. Of this, the worst-affected were between the age groups of 18 and 45 years as 43.3% had developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.While Covid-19 patients between age group 46 and 60 years accounted for 39.5% of the sampled individuals.
"Population-weighted sero-prevalence after adjusting for test performance was 0.73 %. Males, who were living in urban slums and with high-risk of exposure to potentially infected persons, were associated with sero-positivity. A total of 151 (0.5%) individuals reported contact history with a Covid-19 patient and 70 (0.3%) reported that they were tested for the viral infection before the survey," revealed the findings. A randomly sampled, community-based survey was conducted in 700 villages and wards, which were selected from 70 districts in 21 states of the country. Altogether, 30,283 households were surveyed and 28,000 individuals had enrolled for the study.
Documenting pandemic complications
In an attempt to deal with the aftermath, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated an exercise to document data on post Covid-19 complications. National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will carry out a telephonic survey among recovered patients in the country using an existing database to gather data on the same. A committee of domain knowledge experts under the health ministry is currently working on a guidance note on possible complications that may afflict recovered patients, sources told PTI.
As per the process, a guidance note would be issued to the states so that they can share it with the health facilities in their areas for patients getting discharged. The draft format for gathering data on post-Covid sequelae would include patients providing information like age, occupation, co-morbidity status, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, when tests positive and date of discharge. The assessment of patients would be done on the basis of post-Covid sequelae symptoms like chronic cough, breathlessness, impaired renal function, cardiac injury, psychological issues, loss of taste and smell, weakness and poor endurance among others. "In view of the ongoing pandemic, it becomes essential to monitor and gather relevant data on post-Covid-19 sequelae as the information collected will aid in planning the public health responses," an official told PTI.
New viral entry point
Smelling out Covid-19, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) through a study have found that neurons located in the nose which help us sense smell and hypothalamus, the small region located at the base of the brain could provide the port of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 — the virus causing Covid-19 — into the brain. The study has been supported by the department of science and technology (DST), along with European Research Council Synergy.
The study indicates that a specialized cell called tanycytes in the hypothalamus and olfactory neurons, which detect and transmit odorant information to the central nervous system could provide an opening for the virus into the brain. The presence of fibres angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) in tanycytes could not only help direct the virus to affect the sense of smell by infecting neurons but also find its way to the brain's regions impacting temperature control, hydration, cardiorespiratory function, taste. Also, many of the risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension, and even old age, involve hypothalamic cell networks. The study has been published in the journal 'bioRxiv'.
Ayushman Bharat compliance
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued notice to Odisha, Telangana, Delhi and West Bengal on a petition claiming that non-implementation of the Central government's 'Ayushman Bharat' health scheme in these states and union territories (UTs). A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, issued notices after a petition was filed by Perala Shekhar Rao which stated that implementation of the health insurance scheme is a must and its denial of benefits to the people is contrary to Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
"Except Telangana, Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha, all the states in the country are implementing/availing the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Due to non availability of Health insurance and lack of proper facilities in government hospitals, poor and middle class people are forced to pay huge money for the COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals. In these circumstances, the petitioner prays that a comprehensive scheme may be framed by UOI and National Health Authority to provide Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme for desiring/eligible people," read the petition. Under Ayushman Bharat poor people are entitled to avail treatment for the testing and treatment for COVID-19 pandemic, it added. The matter has been listed for further hearing after two weeks.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a health scheme of the Government of India that provides free access to healthcare for 40% of people in the country. This includes people having access to both primary and secondary health care services.
The IIP contraction
In July, India's industrial production contracted by 10.4% as opposed to 16.6% in June due to lower output of manufacturing, mining and power generation, as per the index of industrial production (IIP) report released on Friday evening. This consists of the manufacturing sector which registered a decline of 11.1%, while output of mining and power fell 13% and 2.5% respectively.
"In view of the preventive measures and announcement of nationwide lockdown by the Government to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of the industrial sector establishments were not operating from the end of March 2020 onwards. This has had an impact on the items being produced by the establishments during the period of lockdown. With the lifting of restrictions in the subsequent periods, industrial activity is resuming," said the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in a statement.
Industrial Productivity
Post-Covid sequelae symptoms
sero-prevalence survey
lockdown impact
india lockdown