Indian Railways arranged 62 special trains amid coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown, 70000 passengers travelled to their hometowns: MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday stated that for the migrant workers, the Indian Railways has so far arranged 62 special trains helping 70,000 passengers to commute to their hometowns. On Tuesday 13 more special train are scheduled to run.

In the joint press conference of MHA Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava also said that the government has given permission to bring the stranded Indians from abroad which will commence from May 7. She added that those wishing to return from overseas must follow the protocols of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The people who return will be placed on quarantine on a payment basis for 14 days. 

Along with this, it was said in the press conference by the Ministry of Home Affairs that in public places, everyone has to keep their face mask, stand two yards apart and spitting in public places is a punishable offence. Social distancing should be followed at the shops, with this no more than 5 people can be present at the shops.

India in the last 24 hours recorded 3,900 new coronavirus COVID-19 cases and 195 deaths, making it the highest increase in the single day informed the Union Health Ministry. Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that till now, the total number of confirmed cases across the country has reached 46,433 and the death toll stands at 1,568.

A total of 32,138 cases are under active medical supervision. The number of people who have recovered so far stand at 12,726 with 1020 people cured in the last 24 hours. The current recovery rate stands at 27.41 per cent, he added.

Timely reporting and management of cases is very crucial, he said, adding that the Centre has found gaps in some states. He further added that these gaps have been addressed after due persuasion. He explained that some states had not been reporting COVID-19 cases timely but when they were persuaded the reported such cases. He clarified that this is the reason for the sudden spurt in the number of overall cases since May 4.

The Group of Ministers held its 14th meeting on Tuesday, under the chairpersonship of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, to review, monitor and evaluate the evolving situation on the pandemic. The status of infrastructures such as PPE, oxygen and oxygen cylinders, ventilators and N95 masks has been reviewed.

He added that lockdown has yielded very positive results, doubling time has improved from 3.4 days before lockdown to 12 days at present. "At the same time, it is important that we sustain the momentum. Also, it is important that each and every contact of positive patients need to be traced. Conducting surveillance for SARI and ILI symptoms in facilities in containment zones and otherwise, yields very valuable data and guides further action," added Agarwal.

The Joint Secretary stated that as the Centre has relaxed the lockdown, every citizen should contribute to break the chain of transmission, as part of his/her social responsibility, by following all precautionary measures.

Speaking on non-COVID-19 hospitals and non-COVID treatment areas in COVID-19 hospitals, he said that the Health Ministry has issued additional guidelines for rational use of PPE by health workers and other personnel. "The additional guidelines provide use of PPE according to the risk profile of the area in each type of hospital setting. The full complement of PPE is required in high-risk areas, triple-layer medical mask and examination glove in low-risk areas," said Agarwal.

"It is important to also provide non-COVID-19 health services in all government and private facilities, maintaining zoning criteria and the Ministry has already issued guidelines for providing non-COVID-19 essential health services. It is also important that field functionaries smoothly provide services for prevention of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, in both rural and urban areas," he added.

"Health Minister reviewed Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases, through a video conference with Bihar Health Minister and assured all support to strengthen the health system of the state through National Health Mission," he stated.