Rising Bharat National News Feed: August 13th 2020

Key points:

With the combined efforts of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Defence Research and Development Organisation and others, the domestic industry has been encouraged and facilitated to manufacture and supply essential medical equipment like PPEs, N95 masks, ventilators etc during this period.
Since 11th March this year, the Union Government has distributed more than 3.04 crore N95 masks and more than 1.28 crore PPE kits to States, UTs, Central Institutions, free of cost.
Also, more than 10.83 crore HCQ tablets have been distributed to them.
In addition, 22 thousand 5 hundred 33 ‘Make in India’ ventilators have been delivered to various States, UTs, Central Institutions. The Centre is also ensuring their installation and commissioning.

(News on Air, 13 August 2020) News Link

UP CM Yogi Adityanath directs to increase number of doctors in Covid hospitals of state

Key points:

AIR correspondent reports, a dedicated Covid Hospital will be established in the Famous Cancer institute of state capital Lucknow where number of Covid patients is highest in the state.
Covid beds will also be increased in Hospitals of Kanpur and Varanasi districts along with Lucknow.
CM also stressed on testing of all persons residing in any containment zone of state. He has asked to increase the contract tracing.

(News on Air, 13 August 2020) News Link

Mizoram govt to purchase 10,000 more Rapid Antigen Test kits to increase COVID testing capacity

Key points:

Chief Minister Zoramthanga announced this yesterday at a meeting of top officials and representatives of NGOs, churches and doctors’ associations.
Officials said that the meeting has also decided to enforce the existing safety protocol more strictly in the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases.

(News on Air, 13 August 2020) News Link

Key points:

The Health Department has started conducting antibody tests in Indore from August 11 onwards. This test will be carried out by taking blood samples of 7,000 people, including children, men and women who will be eligible to give plasma to COVID-19 patients if detected with sufficient antibodies.
People with more number of antibodies will be able to donate plasma to coronavirus patients.
Dr. Jyoti Bindal, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College’s dean said, “Under the guidance of NCDC, serosurvey has started in 85 wards of Indore where randomly 7,000 people have been identified in different areas.”
People with more number of antibodies will be appealed to come forward and give their plasma for COVID-19 patients. (ANI)

(ANI, 13 August 2020) News Link

Key points:

From zero capacity to test COVID-19, Nagaland had been able to set up and make functional 2 Biosafety Level (BSL) laboratories and another is expected to function by August-end, Health and Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom informed the State’s Assembly on Thursday.
The first laboratory (BSL-3) was commissioned on May 31 at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, followed by another (BSL-2) at the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur on June 27.
“Another BSL-2 laboratory is being set up at District Hospital Tuensang which is expected to be commissioned by the end of August 2020,” Pangnyu informed while making a statement on COVID-19 during the 6th session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on August 13.
The State has a total of 29 TrueNat machines, which include 3 TrueNat machines provided by Ministry and 6 machines donated by Legislatures and Civil Societies of the State, he said.
As a result, the Minister said the State now has a capacity to test over 1200 samples per day while Rapid Antigen Detection Tests are also now made available for COVID-19 testing.

(Morung Express, 13 August 2020) News Link

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