VISAKHAPATNAM GAS LEAK
Why in news? Eleven people, including a six-year-old girl, died and over 350 were admitted to hospitals after styrene monomer gas leaked from a chemical plant belonging to LG Polymers at RR Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam on 7th May 2020. Details and Case Registered The company was earlier called Hindustan Polymers. It was taken over by the […]
POOR FIND ACCESS TO ACCOUNTS HARD
Why in news? A survey of rural households in Six States cautioned that difficulty in accessing bank accounts meant that the impact of the benefits extended by the Central Government is more limited for the rural poor. The Benefits that Arrived Finance Ministry data showed that ₹34,800 crore has been transferred so far, from the […]
MADHYA PRADESH CAUGHT BETWEEN PANDEMIC AND PENURY
Why in news? The stringent lockdown imposed to curb the COVID-19 outbreak has had a crippling impact on the economy of Madhya Pradesh, where tax collection — SGST and IGST put together — dropped by close to 85% in April. Details Regarding GST arrears, the Centre has settled only part of the pendency for December […]
MOST COVID-19 CASES IN STATES WITH HIGH SWINE FLU RATES
Why in news? Five States — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Tamil Nadu — account for about 70% of India’s confirmed COVID-19 cases – and these are also States that consistently accounted for the bulk of swine flu cases, or seasonal influenza (H1N1) since 2015. Details Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Maharashtra accounted for 54 % of […]
TAIWAN’S CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOL SHOWS HOW IT IS DONE
Introduction Pandemics can spread rapidly around the world because of the ease of international transportation. Among the most salient examples are the Spanish flu of 1918, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and the H1N1 influenza of 2009. Taiwan’s strategy When information concerning a novel pneumonia outbreak was first confirmed on December […]
RECOVERY RATE RISES TO 25%, SAYS GOVERNMENT
Why in news? The Union Health Ministry said, on 30th April, that India is currently recording a total recovery rate of 25.19% up from 13% about two weeks ago. Details Giving details on the percentage of deaths in various age groups, the Ministry said India has a case fatality rate of 3.2% currently which is 65% […]
STRATEGIC SHIFT – RESERVING HEALTHCARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST
Relaxation In a containment strategy tweak, those with a mild form of the disease, or are pre-symptomatic, would have the option of home quarantining. But their homes ought to have self-isolation facilities, a full-time caregiver, and daily health-status reports given to the district surveillance officer. Why is such a move done? The Health Ministry has […]
LIFT THE LOCKDOWN & OPEN UP
Is the Curve Flattened? So far, India has done a phenomenal job of ‘flattening the curve’ as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported a test positivity rate (TPR) of 4.4% (i.e., 1in 23 people tested were positive). Compared to India, the US had a TPR of 19.3%, Spain 18.2%, Italy 13.2% and Japan […]
A POLICY ROAD MAP TO TACKLE COVID-19
Policy Concerns Policies to address the worldwide crisis brought about by COVID-19 must satisfy three criteria: They must aim to minimise the loss of life directly resulting from the disease, while recognising that there remain deep uncertainties about its true nature. They must restore the elements of economic and social life as soon as possible, […]
GLOBAL HUNGER COULD DOUBLE DUE TO COVID-19
Why in news? The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million, due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said on 21st April 2020. The impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic […]