Coronavirus

Sparking a controversy, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivdendra Singh Rawat on May 13 stated that the COVID-19 has the "Right to live". Talking to the reporters, Rawat stated, "We think ourselves to be the most intelligent and are out to eliminate it. So it is constantly mutating itself." However, Rawat faced a public anger on social media after making the contentious comment. 

Indian Council of Medical Research head Dr Balram Bhargava has advised COVID hotspot states to impose a 6-8 week lockdown to curb the rising number of cases. He said that the lockdown should continue in districts that have reported a 10% or above infection rate. Notably, major cities including New Delhi and Bengaluru have a positivity rate above 10%. He also accepted that the Centre's response was slightly delayed.

A report by Weekend Australian has claimed that Chinese military scientists had planned to use the coronaviruses as a biological weapon five years before the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked for document-confirmation by cyber security expert Robert Potter, he said, "It's not fake but it is up to someone else to interpret how serious it is." The expert also emphasized on China's unwillingness to cooperate in the investigations.

The Health Ministry in its fresh directive to states have cancelled the mandatory COVID report required for treatment of COVID-19 patients at hospitals. Emphasising "prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment," the guidelines stated "no patient will be refused on any count." Ordering to admit even other city patients and assuring all essential aids including oxygen, the ministry provisioned that beds should not be occupied by someone who… read-more

Hours after sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM, MK Stalin on May 7 announced to provide free COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals under the CM’s Comprehensive Health insurance scheme. Besides allocating COVID-19 financial relief of Rs 4000 per family, CM Stalin decreased milk prices by Rs 3/litre. Stalin also introduced free travel for women, students and professionals in state owned buses from May 8.