COVID19

WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic

As fresh coronavirus cases continue to be reported from different countries, the World Health Organization has finally declared the novel coronavirus a ‘pandemic‘.

WHO said it was deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.

Earlier, on January 30 the WHO declared it was a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”.

What is an outbreak, epidemic and pandemic?

1. An outbreak is understood to be a sudden rise in the cases of a disease in a particular place.
2. An epidemic is a large outbreak among a particular population or region (such as the current situation in China).
3. A pandemic is “the worldwide spread of a new disease”👀. There is no specific number of countries that a disease must touch for WHO to classify it as a pandemic.

The spread of COVID 19:

The novel coronavirus disease that emerged in Wuhan, China, in the final days of last year, is now in at least 47 countries around the world, spanning every continent except Antarctica. More than 82,000 people have been infected, and over 2,800 are dead.

Affected countries include Japan, Brazil, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Iran among others.

Previous Pandemics:

In June 2009, the WHO declared a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu.

The WHO has abandoned that system of classification now, even though the term pandemic can still be used “colloquially”.

Implications:

The WHO continues to advise countries “to enact plans based on national risk assessments of local circumstances, taking into consideration the information provided by WHO’s global assessments”.

About Novel Coronavirus disease:

COVID-19 is a respiratory infection. There are many types of coronavirus, some linked to the common cold, but this one is new and was detected toward the end of 2019.

COVID-19 is the official name given to the virus by the World Health Organization. Before WHO officially named the virus, it was also referred to as coronavirus, the novel coronavirus and 2019-nCOV (to indicate the year when the virus was first detected).

Why it is named so?

The coronavirus gets its name from the way it looks: It has a core of genetic material covered by an envelope with protein spikes that resemble a crown. In Latin, a crown is a corona. It’s called a novel coronavirus because it’s new and hasn’t been detected in people before.

What are the symptoms? 

• COVID-19 is similar to other respiratory illnesses and symptoms include a fever, dry cough, sore throat and headache. There may also be aches and pains, fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.
• While most cases are mild, some individuals may experience more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and may experience pneumonia in both lungs. Those with health issues or underlying conditions may also have a harder time recovering.
• It may take up to 14 days after exposure for symptoms to appear.

How is COVID-19 spread? 

• COVID-19 is transmitted through liquid droplets or particles when a person coughs or sneezes. These droplets, if containing the virus, can infect a person by entering through the eyes, nose or throat. It’s not believed to be airborne and it’s not known to infect via the skin.
• However, the virus can survive on some surfaces so if a person sneezes into their hand, shakes your hand and your then rub your eye with your hand, transmission is possible through self-inoculation.

What’s the difference between a cold, a flu and COVID- 19?

All three are respiratory illnesses but each is caused by a different virus.

The cold is caused by the rhinovirus👀, the flu is caused by the influenza virus👀, and COVID-19 is caused by the novel 2019 coronavirus.

All three can lead to pneumonia if complicated by other health issues or underlying conditions.

What makes WHO declare a disease outbreak a public health emergency?

 World Health Organization declares coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern.

What necessitated this?

Rising numbers and evidence of person-to-person transmission in a handful of cases outside of China.

Greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.

What is a public health emergency of international concern?

As per WHO, it is “an extraordinary event” that constitutes a “public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease” and “to potentially require a coordinated international response.” Previous emergencies have included Ebola, Zika and H1N1.

The responsibility of declaring an event as an emergency lies with the Director-General of the WHO and requires the convening of a committee of members.

Implications:

Declaring the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern would allow WHO to better coordinate the international response and hold nations to account if they overstep the organization’s standards — which may pertain to travel, trade, quarantine or screening.

Background:

The novel coronavirus (a new strain of coronavirus which has not been previously identified in human beings) is one among a large family of coronaviruses that can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to the more serious Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

• The source of the novel coronavirus is not yet known and there is no treatment for it so far.
• Other countries where confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported include Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Nepal, Germany, France, the US and Canada.

USA response 

The United States will begin screening efforts at three US airports to detect travellers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan who may have symptoms of a new respiratory virus- Coronavirus.

About Coronavirus:

• Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
• Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

Symptoms:

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Transmission:

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

1. the air by coughing and sneezing.
2. close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
3. touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.
4. rarely, fecal contamination.

 nCoV outbreak declared a State calamity in Kerala:

• Kerala has declared the novel coronavirus (nCoV) infectiona State calamity.
• So far, there have been three confirmed cases.
• The decision will help ensure that the outbreak is controlled.

Pangolin:

Pangolins could be responsible for the spread of the deadly coronavirus in China, scientists have said after they found the genome sequence separated from the endangered mammals 99 per cent identical to that from infected people.

Background:

Birds and animals are in the centre of the debate about how the virus originated. In the beginning, snakes were blamed for the virus.

Chinese health experts later contended that the virus originated from bats, but whether there are more intermediate carriers between bats and humans requires further investigation. The virus was believed to have been spread from Wuhan’s Hunan seafood wholesale market.

About Pangolin:

• It is the only scaly mammal on the planet👀.
• According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it is also the most illegally traded vertebrate within its class (Mammalia).
• Protection Status: Chinese pangolin has been listed as “critically endangered” by UN affiliated International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) has been listed as “endangered” in IUCN Red List. It is also a Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

WHO raises global risk of coronavirus to ‘very high’, what does this mean?

WHO characterises risk of spread and impact of a disease on a scale that ranges from “low risk” to “very high” level of risk.

It defines the different characterisations of risk as follows:

Low Risk: “Managed according to standard response protocols, routine control programmes and regulation (e.g. monitoring through routine surveillance systems)”.

Moderate Risk: “Roles and responsibility for the response must be specified. Specific monitoring or control measures required (e.g. enhanced surveillance, additional vaccination campaigns)”.

High Risk: “Senior management attention needed: there may be a need to establish command and control structures; a range of additional control measures will be required some of which may have significant consequences”.

Very High Risk: “Immediate response required even if the event is reported out of normal working hours. Immediate senior management attention needed (e.g. the command and control structure should be established within hours); the implementation of control measures with serious consequences is highly likely”.

India-U.S. Military Cooperation Group (MCG):

Context: The India-U.S. Military Cooperation Group (MCG)👀 dialogue, scheduled for later this month, has been cancelled👀 in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

What is MCG?

The MCG is a forum to review the progress of defence cooperation between India’s Integrated Defence Staff👀 and the the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)👀 at the strategic and operational levels.

The Integrated Defence Staff was responsible for coordination among the armed forces before the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff.

India becomes first country to suspend visas of all foreign nationals:

• The Indian government has suspended visas for foreign nationals from all across the globe owing to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak👀. The decision will come into effect from March 13, 2020.
• India is the first 👀among more than 120 countries affected by this outbreak to take such a drastic step.
• The visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders👀 has also been kept in abeyance till April 15, 2020.

What is sepsis, a common cause of death from coronavirus?

• Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body’s immune system overreacting in response to an infection. This overactive, toxic response can lead to tissue damage, multiple organ failure and death.
• Viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites — sepsis can be triggered by a variety of pathogens.
• The causes of sepsis are usually pneumonia, wound infections, urinary tract infections or infections in the abdominal cavity.
• Ebola and yellow fever viruses, dengue, swine flu or bird flu viruses can also cause sepsis.

COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund:

The United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation👀 have created the solidarity fund to support WHO and partners in a massive effort to help countries prevent, detect, and manage the novel coronavirus 👀– particularly those where the needs are the greatest.

Herd immunity:

Herd immunity is when a large number of people are vaccinated against a disease👀, lowering the chances of others being infected by it. When a sufficient percentage of a population is vaccinated, it slows the spread of disease. It is also referred to as community immunity or herd protection👀.

Key characteristics:

• Herd protection of the unvaccinated occurs when a sufficient proportion of the group is immune.
• The decline of disease incidence is greater than the proportion of individuals immunized because vaccination reduces the spread of an infectious agent by reducing the amount and/or duration of pathogen shedding by vaccines, retarding transmission.

Why in News? The UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser has said a degree of herd immunity will help the UK population as Covid-19 spreads.

Stafford Act:

 US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in the country invoking the Stafford Act👀.

Key features:

• As per this act, the federal government contributes about 75% to the cost of relief for states👀.
• The Act authorises the President to provide financial and other assistance to local and state governments, certain private nonprofit organisations, and individuals following declaration as a Stafford Act Emergency (limited) or Major Disaster (more severe).

Emergency covid-19 fund for Saarc nations:

 PM Modi proposes emergency covid-19 fund for Saarc nations.

• It will be an emergency fund based on voluntary contributions from all SAARC members👀.
• India has already pledged $10 million towards this fund✌.

1. What is SAARC?

   The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.

   • The member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
   • It has a permanent secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal👀.
   • The organization was started to promote economic and cultural ties amongst its member states.

What is community transmission?

It is one of the levels of transmission defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)👀. Simply put, community transmission means that a virus is circulating in the community and can affect people with no history of travel to affected areas or of contact with an infected person.
Why in News?
India’s current emphasis on social distancing and discouragement of public gatherings is aimed at checking community transmission.

Safe Hands Challenge:

It is a campaign launched by the World Health Organization👀 in the wake of 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic.

The campaign urges everyone to wash their hands regularly for 40 seconds👀 to keep themselves safe and prevent the transmission of disease.

What is hantavirus?

Case of hantavirus in Yunnan province of China.

Key facts:

• The hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents. A person can get infected if he/she comes in contact with a rodent that carries the virus.
• It remains unclear whether human-to-human transmission of the virus is possible.
• A person infected with the virus may show symptoms within the first to eighth week after they have been exposed to fresh urine, faeces or the saliva of infected rodents.
• Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills and abdominal problems. Four to ten after being infected, late symptoms of HPS may start to appear, which include coughing and shortness of breath.

What is Force Majeure?

Indian Railways👀 has decided that the period from 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated under “Force Majeure”👀.

During this period no demurrage, wharfage, stacking, stabling, detention and ground usage charge shall be leviable.

What is it? A force majeure (FM) means extraordinary events or circumstance beyond human control such as an event described as an Act of God (like a natural calamity).

Indian Scientists’ Response to CoViD-19 (ISRC):

• It is a voluntary group of scientists who regularly discuss the rapidly evolving situation with its dire need for science communication.
• With nearly 200 members, the group has scientists from institutions such as the NCBS, the IISc, the TIFR, the IITs, the IISERs and many others.
• The group aims to study existing and available data to bring out analyses that will support the Central, State and local governments in carrying out their tasks.
• This platform works through two channels — phone and WhatsApp to connect people in need with those who can provide help.

Arr-Rinam:

• It is a tribal lockdown ritual observed in Arunachal Pradesh👀.
• It is the Galo equivalent of lockdown imposed by consensus for 48 hours whenever an epidemic strikes👀.
• It has been imposed now on account of COVID- 19 spread.
• It was last performed almost four decades ago when a water-borne disease had affected many members of the community.
• The Adi community👀 inhabiting East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts too performed a similar ritual called Motor👀 that they believe lets shamans with legendary powers to locate wild herbs to combat an epidemic.

SOLIDARITY trial:

• World Health Organization (WHO)👀 announced a large global trial, called SOLIDARITY👀, to find out whether any can treat infections with the new coronavirus for the dangerous respiratory disease.
• The study has been designed to generate the robust data needed to show which treatments are the most effective.
• India has volunteered to participate in this trial.
• Many countries, including Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand, have already confirmed that they will join the solidarity trial.
• The Solidarity Trial will test four different drugs or combinations —remdesivir👀a combination of two drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir👀, the two drugs plus interferon beta, and chloroquine👀— and will compare their effectiveness to what is called standard of care, the regular support hospitals treating COVID-19 patients use now.

WHO has also created a Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund👀, to help provide protective equipment for front-line health workers, equip diagnostic laboratories, improve surveillance and data collection and take other critical steps to scale up the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Operation Namaste”:

Indian Army launched👀 “Operation Namaste” to contain the spread of Corona Virus in the country.

Under the operation, the army will help the Government of India fight against the deadly disease.

Under the operation, Indian Army has established 8 quarantine👀 so far. Also, Command wise help line numbers have been established.

Facilities for the families of the army men have been arranged to visit nearest camps in case of emergency while they are away serving the country.

Mo Jiban:

It is a new programme launched by Odisha Government👀, under which people of the State have to take a resolute vow to stay home and not to go outside during the lockdown period to remain safe from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Fight Corona IDEAthon:

It is a 2-day online event.

• It was organized to search for accessible and affordable technological solutions that can contain the rapid spread of infection, ease the mounting pressure and ensure a quick return to normalcy.
• The initiative was jointly organised by MHRD Innovation Cell, AICTE, MEITY Startup Hub, InnovatioCuris and other institutions of global and national prominence.

The focus area of the IDEAthon was:

1. designing reusable/washable masks.
2. system to disinfect currency notes/coins.
3. a non-invasive diagnostic kit.
4. Storage Kits to collect test samples from homes.

Exercise Red Flag:

• The U.S. Air Force has cancelled Phase-I👀 of its flagship multilateral air exercise, Red Flag, scheduled in Alaska👀 from April 30.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) was to take part in the exercise with its Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.

Key facts:

• Exercise Red Flag is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force👀. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the United States and allied countries.
• Only countries considered friendly towards the United States take part in Red Flag exercises.

PM- CARES fund:

 PM Narendra Modi announces PM-CARES fund to fight coronavirus outbreak.

PM- CARES fund stands for Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund👀.

• It is a public charitable trust.
• Contributions by corporates to this fund will be considered as social welfare spending under the companies law.
• It will be an emergency situation fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead.

How will the fund be administered?

The prime minister is the chairman of the new public charitable trust, its members include the defence minister, home minister and the finance minister.

Sections 269 and 270 of the IPC:

• Sections 269 & 270 IPC are being invoked against persons who malignantly do any act which is likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life👀.
• Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life)👀 and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life)👀 come under Chapter XIV of the IPC.
• While Section 269 provides for a jail term of six months and/or fine, Section 270 provides for a jail term of two years and/or fine.
• In Section 270, the word ‘malignantly’ indicates a deliberate intention on the part of the accused.

Bear bile:

• For treating severe and critical cases of COVID-19, Chinese government has recommended an injection of Tan Re Qing,👀 which contains bear bile.
• The use of bear bile in Chinese medicine dates back at least 1,300 years. Bile is secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder.
• Bile from bears tends to be high in ursodeoxycholic acid, also known as ursodiol👀, which is helpful in dissolving gallstones and treating liver disease.

Sodium hypochlorite:

• Sodium hypochlorite is commonly used as a bleaching agent, and also to sanitise swimming pools.
• It releases chlorine👀, which is a disinfectant👀. Large quantities of chlorine can be harmful.
• At a much lower 0.25-0.5%, this chemical is used to treat skin wounds👀 like cuts or scrapes. An even weaker solution (0.05%) is sometimes used as a handwash.
• It is corrosive and is meant largely to clean hard surfaces👀. It is not recommended to be used on human beings.
• A 1% solution can cause damage to the skin of anyone who comes in contact with it. If it gets inside the body, it can cause serious harm to lungs.

Why in News?

In Uttar Pradesh, migrant workers travelling to their home states, or their belongings, were sprayed with a disinfectant containing sodium hypochlorite, apparently to sanitise them.

Operation Sanjeevani:

An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J transport aircraft recently delivered 6.2 tonne of essential medicines and hospital consumables to Maldives👀 under Operation Sanjeevani.

Among other things, these medicines include influenza vaccines, anti-viral drugs such as lopinavir and navigator 👀— which have been used to treat patients with COVID-19 in other countries.

What is National Cadet Corps?

It is a youth development movement👀. It came into existence under the National Cadet Corps Act XXXI of 1948👀.

It is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.

• The NCC provides exposure to the cadets in a wide range of activities., with a distinct emphasis on Social Services, Discipline and Adventure Training. The NCC is open to all regular students of schools and colleges on a voluntary basis. The students have no liability for active military service.

Why in News?

National Cadet Corps (NCC) has offered a helping hand to civilian authorities in the country’s fight against COVID-19 by extending the services of cadets under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’👀.

AarogyaSetu:

• It is mobile app developed in public-private partnership to bring the people of India together in a resolute fight against COVID-19.
  The App joins Digital India for the health and well-being of every Indian.
• It will enable people to assess themselves the risk for their catching the Corona Virus infection👀.
• It will calculate this based on their interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Govt. imposes curbs on drug exports

India has restricted the export of common medicines such as paracetamol and 25 other pharmaceutical ingredients and drugs made from them, as it looked to prevent shortages amid concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak turning into a pandemic.

Drugs whose exports is restricted:

Besides over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer paracetamol,👀👀 drugs restricted for exports included common antibiotics metronidazole, those used to treat bacterial and other infections, as well as vitamin B1 and B12 ingredients👀.

Background:

In February, the Department of Pharmaceuticals asked the DGFT to issue orders restricting the export of 12 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and formulations in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

What’s the concern now?

Although India is source of about 20% of the world’s generic drug supply, pharmaceutical companies in the country are dependent on China for two-thirds of the chemical components needed to make them. The outbreak of COVID-19 has shut factories in China and impacted supplies, leading to fears of a shortage.

Implications:

This restriction has not gone down well with the exporters. For exporters, it is going to be a problem and will have an impact on reputation too.

What are APIs?

API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) means the active ingredient which is contained in medicine. For example, an active ingredient to relieve pain is included in a painkiller. This is called API. A small amount of the active ingredient has an effect, so only a tiny part of the active ingredient is contained in medicine.

Components of Medications:

All drugs are made up of two core components: the API, which is the central ingredient, and the excipient, the substances other than the drug that helps deliver the medication to your system. Excipients are chemically inactive substances, such as lactose or mineral oil in the pill.

Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

The Centre has asked states and Union Territories to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897👀, so that Health Ministry advisories are enforceable.

At present, at least 60 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in India.

What is Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897?

It is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera.

It was introduced by colonial government to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague👀 that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s.

Why was this act criticised?

Historians have criticised the Act for its potential for abuse.

Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies authorities would search suspected plague cases in homes and among passengers, with forcible segregations, evacuations, and demolitions of infected places.

In 1897, the year the law was enforced, freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak was punished with 18 months’ rigorous imprisonment after his newspapers Kesari and Mahratta admonished imperial authorities for their handling of the plague epidemic.

Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act:

1. It empowers state governments/UTs to take special measures and formulate regulations for containing the outbreak.
2. It also empowers state to prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof.
3. The state may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.
4. The State Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.
5. It also provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act. These are according to section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).
6. It also gives legal protection to the implementing officers acting under the Act.

Examples of implementation:

1. In 2018, the district collector of Gujarat’s Vadodara issued a notification under the Act declaring the Khedkarmsiya village in Waghodia taluka as cholera-affected after 31 persons complained of symptoms of the disease.
2. In 2015, to deal with malaria and dengue in Chandigarh, the Act was implemented and controlling officers were instructed to ensure the issuance of notices and challans of Rs 500 to offenders.
3. In 2009, to tackle the swine flu outbreak in Pune, Section 2 powers were used to open screening centres in civic hospitals across the city, and swine flu was declared a notifiable disease.

During India coronavirus lockdown, the laws that come into play (Relevant for both Prelims and Mains):

1. Section 188 IPC deals with those disobeying an order passed by a public servant, and provides for imprisonment ranging from one to six months. For those violating orders passed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, Section 188 IPC is the provision under which punishment is awarded.
2. Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for punishment for two kinds of offences: obstructing any officer or employee of the government or person authorised by any disaster management authority for discharge of a function; and refusing to comply with any direction given by the authorities under the Act. Punishment can extend to one year on conviction, or two years if the refusal leads to loss of lives or any imminent danger.
3. Section 505 IPC provides for imprisonment of three years or fine, or both, for those who publish or circulate anything which is likely to cause fear or alarm. Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act provides for imprisonment, extending to one year, of those who make or circulate a false alarm or warning regarding a disaster or its severity or magnitude.
4. Under Section 52, Disaster Management Act, whoever makes a false claim for obtaining “any relief, assistance, repair, reconstruction or other benefits” from any official authority can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and a fine will be imposed on the person.

IAS, IPS officers’ associations form ‘Caruna’, an initiative to fight Coronavirus:

Associations representing officers of Central Civil Services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), have formed an initiative called ‘Caruna’👀 to support and supplement the government’s efforts in fighting coronavirus.

The acronym ‘Caruna’ stands for Civil Services Associations Reach to Support in Natural Disasters and represents a collaborative platform, on which civil servants, industry leaders, NGO professionals and IT professionals among others have come together to contribute their time and abilities.

Delhi’s ‘5T’ war against virus:

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a “5T plan”👀 created by his government to contain COVID-19 spread in Delhi. These five Ts are testing, tracing, treatment, teamwork and tracking-monitoring👀.

Samadhan challenge:

The Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Human Resources Development and All India Council for Technical Education in collaboration with Forge and InnovatioCuris launched a mega online challenge – SAMADHAN 👀– to test the ability of students to innovate.

The students participating in this challenge will search and develop such measures that can be made available to the government agencies, health services, hospitals and other services for quick solutions to the Coronavirus epidemic and other such calamities.

Operation Shield to fight Covid-19:

Announced by Delhi Government.

• SHIELD stands for sealing, home quarantine, isolation and tracing, essential supply, local sanitation and door-to-door checks.
• It will be implemented in 21 localities identified as containment zones in Delhi.

Coronavirus: Stage by stage in a pandemic

What are the stages of a pandemic?

In the first stage of a disease epidemic that eventually takes the form of a pandemic sweeping the globe, cases are imported into a country in which the infection did not originate👀. An infection whose spread is contained within the boundaries of one or a few countries is obviously not a pandemic.

The second stage is when the virus starts being transmitted locally👀. Local transmission means that the source of the infection is from within a particular area and the trajectory the virus has taken from one person to the next is clearly established.

The third stage is that of community transmission👀.

What is community spread of the infection?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says community transmission “is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories)”.

In the simplest terms, community spread is when you do not know the source of the infection👀 — you are unable to trace it back to someone who has travelled in an affected area overseas, or got it through contact with someone who is infected.

Why it is worrisome?

Community spread implies that the virus is now circulating in the community, and can infect people with no history — either of travel to affected areas, or of contact with the infected person.

In a situation of community transmission, it is theoretically possible for every person regardless of where they are from or whether they have been in contact, to spread the infection.

When can it be said that the virus is definitely in the stage of community spread?

There have to be several cases of untraced infection source to conclude definitively that the outbreak has moved to the next level.

What is the fourth stage?

It is when the disease becomes endemic in some countries. Among diseases that are currently endemic in India — meaning they occur round the year across the country — are malaria and dengue.

How does categorising an outbreak in this manner help?

The stages of a pandemic are uniform the world over.

This is so because in today’s interconnected world, it is important to have a standardised phraseology that conveys the same thing to every person around the world, and helps countries prepare better.

The categorisation helps countries take specific actions that are necessary to target just that particular scenario.

Worldwide, in which stage is the COVID-19 pandemic now?

The pandemic has spread to nearly every country on the planet. In most, though, it is in the stage of either imported cases or local transmission.

Among the countries where community transmission seems to be operating are China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

How should India be prepared now?

Isolation, and not indiscriminate testing, is the only way India can limit the spread of COVID-19. A lockdown is the most important step in breaking transmission of the infection.

What is Section 188 IPC?

Why in News?

The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 lays down punishment as per Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860👀, for flouting orders issued by various state governments to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In the past, the Act has been routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera. Its penal provisions are currently being invoked by states to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, What is Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code?

Section 188 relates to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.

• It says violators can be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both;
• and if such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

What happens if you violate the lockdown orders? 

Under Section 188, there two offences:

1. Disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant, If such disobedience causes obstruction, ann oyance or injury to persons lawfully employed

      Punishment: Simple Imprisonment for 1 month or fine of Rs 200 or both

2. If such disobedience causes danger to human life, health or safety, etc.

Punishment: Simple Imprisonment for 6 months or fine of Rs 1000 or both

According to the First Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, both offences are cognizable, bailable, and can be tried by any magistrate.

These are extraordinary times, but under what circumstances is Sec 188 IPC invoked normally?

To be punishable under S. 188, the order has to be for public purposes by public functionaries. An order made in a civil suit between two parties does not fall under this Section.

There must be evidence that the accused had knowledge of the order with the disobedience of which he is charged. Mere proof of a general notification promulgating the order does not satisfy the requirements of the section. Mere disobedience of the order does not constitute an offence in itself, it must be shown that the disobedience has or tends to a certain consequence.

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

As a part of Government’s efforts to contain spread of COVID – 19, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)👀 has issued a circular granting one-time dispensation for utilizing funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to address the challenges in the fight against COVID-19.

• This will facilitate Members of Parliament to recommend funds for purchase of equipments for Government Hospitals / Dispensaries for medical testing and screening of patients and also facilitate in setting up other related facilities in their respective constituencies.

About MPLAD scheme:

What is it?

It was launched in December, 1993, to provide a mechanism for the Members of Parliament to recommend works of developmental nature for creation of durable community assets and for provision of basic facilities including community infrastructure, based on locally felt needs.

• The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India👀. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crore.

Special focus:

• MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by S.T. population.
• In order to encourage trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people, a ceiling of Rs. 75 lakh is stipulated for building assets by trusts and societies subject to conditions prescribed in the scheme guidelines.

Works under the scheme:

Works, developmental in nature, based on locally felt needs and always available for the use of the public at large, are eligible under the scheme. Preference under the scheme is given to works relating to national priorities, such as provision of drinking water, public health, education, sanitation, roads, etc.

Release of Funds:

• Funds are released in the form of grants in-aid directly to the district authorities.
• The funds released under the scheme are non-lapsable👀
• The liability of funds not released in a particular year is carried forward to the subsequent years, subject to eligibility.

Execution of works:

The MPs have a recommendatory role under the scheme. They recommend their choice of works to the concerned district authorities who implement these works by following the established procedures of the concerned state government.

The district authority is empowered to examine the eligibility of works sanction funds and select the implementing agencies, prioritise works, supervise overall execution, and monitor the scheme at the ground level.

Recommendation of works:

1. The Lok Sabha Members can recommend works in their respective constituencies.
2. The elected members of the Rajya Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the state from which they are elected.
3. Nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select works for implementation anywhere in the country.

Kurzarbeit scheme

Why in News? Amid the all-round disruption caused to the economy by the novel coronavirus outbreak, a concern across the world is the possibility of loss of jobs.

Germany’s Kurzabeit is being mentioned time and again in this context. Also, the German cabinet is planning to extend the benefit of short-time work allowance by the first half of April through legislation.

About Kurzarbeit:

Kurzarbeit is German for “short-work”.

The policy provides for a short-time work allowance👀, called kurzarbeitgeld👀, which partially compensates for lost earnings during uncertain economic situations.

The policy was rolled out during the 2008 economic crisis while its origins date back as far as the early 20th century, before and after World War I.

How it works?

1. The scheme aims to address workers who are impacted by loss of income due to shortened work hours during such times.
2. They can apply for short-term work benefits under the scheme, with the government stepping in to pay employees a part of their lost income.
3. This helps the companies retain their employees instead of laying them off, and allows the latter to sustain themselves for a period of up to 12 months.

Quantum of payment:

Payment under Kurzarbeit is calculated on the basis of net loss of earnings👀. As per Germany’s Federal Agency for Work, short-time employees generally receive about 60 per cent of the flat-rate net wage, In case there is at least one child in the house of the short-time worker, he/she receives 67 per cent of the flat-rate net wage.

 MSP for MFP

The Union government’s ‘mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce (MFP) through minimum support price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP’ scheme can offer respite to forest-dependent labourers in the wake of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to experts.

What is this scheme all about?

The Union Cabinet, in 2013, approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for marketing of non-nationalized / non monopolized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development of a value chain for MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP)👀.

• This was a measure towards social safety for MFP gatherers, who are primarily members of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) most of them in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.
• The scheme had Rs. 967.28 crore as Central Government share and Rs. 249.50 crore as the States share for the current Plan period.

Key features of the scheme:

• Ensure that the tribal population gets a remunerative price for the produce they collect from the forest and provide alternative employment avenues to them.
• Establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns for forest dweller’s efforts in collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc, while ensuring sustainability of the resource base.
• Get them a share of revenue from the sales proceeds with costs deducted.

Coverage:

Earlier, the scheme was extended only to Scheduled Areas in eight states and fixed MSPs for 12 MFPs. Later expanded to all states and UTs.

Total number of MFPs covered under the list include 49.

Implementation:

1. The responsibility of purchasing MFP on MSP will be with State designated agencies.
2. To ascertain market price, services of market correspondents would be availed by the designated agencies particularly for major markets trading in MFP.
3. The scheme supports primary value addition as well as provides for supply chain infrastructure like cold storage, warehouses etc.
4. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs👀 will be the nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of the scheme. The Minimum Support Price would be determined by the Ministry with technical help of TRIFED👀.

Significance of the scheme:

The Minor Forest Produce (MFP), also known as Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), is a major source of livelihood and provides essential food, nutrition, medicinal needs and cash income to a large number of STs who live in and around forests. An estimated 100 million forest dwellers depend on the Minor Forest Produce for food, shelter, medicines, cash income, etc.

However, MFP production is highly dispersed spatially because of the poor accessibility of these areas and competitive market not having evolved. Consequently, MFP gatherers who are mostly poor are unable to bargain for fair prices. This package of intervention can help in organizing unstructured MFP markets.

What is a Schedule H1 Drug?

This was done in exercise of its powers conferred by Section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940).

• The move is aimed at stopping misuse of the drug which has now been allowed by the government for prophylactic use in high risk contacts of Covid-19 patients and healthcare workers treating such patients.

 Implications of this classification:

• It restricts its sale only based on prescription👀.
• The sale of the drug from now on should be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs as specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
  This would mean that any preparation containing the said drug will have a warning label of ‘only prescription sale’ and against self-medication.
• Additionally, chemists would need to maintain records for name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied and such records shall be maintained for three years and be open for inspection.

What are Schedule H1 Drugs?

The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, are the set of rules under The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940👀, which has provisions for classification of drugs into different schedules and also guidelines for storage, sale, display.

Schedule H1 has been introduced through Gazette notification GSR 588 (E) dated 30-08-2013 to check the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, anti-TB and some other drugs in the country👀.

The schedule contains certain 3rd and 4th generation antibiotics, certain habit forming drugs and anti-TB drugs.

 As per government notification, these drugs are required to be sold in the country with the following conditions:

1. The supply of a drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be recorded in a separate register at the time of the supply giving the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied and such records shall be maintained for three years and be open for inspection.
2. The drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be labelled with the symbol Rx which shall be in red and conspicuously displayed on the left top corner👀 of the label, and shall also be labelled with the following words in a box with a red border:

RBI’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Package

Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has come out with its own measures to help deal with economic fall out of COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the first time that the MPC met outside its bi-monthly meeting calendar👀.

Four steps taken by the RBI:

1. Increase the liquidity in the system.
2. Make sure the lower policy rate is transmitted. Steps one and two are linked.
3. Give a three-month window for a payback on all term loans.
4. Take steps to reduce volatility and provide stability.

Measures announced and their impact:

1. Cut in repo rate:

A big cut in the repo rate by 75 basis points (100 basis points make a per cent, so three-quarters of a percentage point) to 4.4%.

A low repo rate has the overall effect of reducing interest rates for the system. Lower rates make it easier for entrepreneurs to take loans for working capital and for households for homes, vehicles and so on.

2. Cut in reverse repo rate:

The ratio has been cut by 90 bps to 4%👀.

This is the rate at which banks lend to the RBI👀.

A reduction of the reverse repo to 4% makes it unattractive to banks to park it with the RBI and banks will be nudged to lend.

3. Moratorium on Repayments of Loans:

RBI has also allowed banks to defer payment of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) on home, car, personal loans as well as credit card dues for three months till May 31.

The RBI also allowed lending institutions, banks to defer interest on working capital repayments by 3 months — a move aimed at addressing the distress among firms as production is down.

For banks and lending institutions, this will affect their cash flows as they may not be getting repayments for three months. But the RBI has reduced their cash reserve ratio (CRR) requirements, providing them additional liquidity.

4. Cut in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR):

The RBI reduced the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by a full percentage point down to 3% for a year. The CRR is the percentage of demand and time deposits banks have to keep with the RBI.

RBI has reduced the CRR to 3%, freeing up ₹1.37 trillion for banks to lend👀. CRR has been chosen rather than SLR because this increases ‘primary liquidity’ with the banks a bit better.

5. Targeted long-term repo operations:

RBI will lend money to banks (a total of ₹1 trillion) that can be invested in bonds and other forms of lending instruments.

TLTRO will provide financing to credit institutions.

6. Marginal standing facility (MSF):

₹1.37 trillion will be made available under the emergency lending window👀 called the marginal standing facility (MSF).

Banks will now be able to borrow 3% of their deposits under this window, up from the current 2%. Basically, RBI is willing to lend more than before.

Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

The Vice President of India and the Chairman Rajya Sabha, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has contributed a sum equivalent to a month’s salary to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to strengthen the government’s efforts in combating COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

What is PMNRF? When was it setup?

In pursuance of an appeal by the then Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in January, 1948, the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established with public contributions to assist displaced persons from Pakistan👀.

• The resources of the PMNRF are now utilized primarily to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of the major accidents and riots.
• Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered, to partially defray the expenses for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment, etc.

Key features:

1. Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime Minister.
2. PMNRF has not been constituted by the Parliament👀.
3. The fund is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act and the same is managed by Prime Minister or multiple delegates for national causes.
4. PMNRF is exempt under Income Tax Act.
5. Prime Minister is the Chairman of PMNRF👀 and is assisted by Officers/ Staff on honorary basis.
6. These contributions also qualify as CSR (corporate social responsibility) spend for companies, making it more attractive in terms of tax exemptions.

How are the surplus funds of PMNRF deployed?

In general, funds are either disbursed immediately or they are committed for specific purposes.The balance of the funds invested in various forms with scheduled commercial banks and other agencies to ensure long term sustainability.

Type of contributions accepted in PMNRF:

1. PMNRF accepts only voluntary donations by individuals and institutions.
2. Contributions flowing out of budgetary sources of Government or from the balance sheets of the public sector undertakings are not accepted.
3. At the time of natural calamity of devastating scale, Prime Minister, makes an appeal for donation to the fund.

What’s in the US’s historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package?

The US Senate has unanimously approved a $2.2 trillion economic package to contain the damage caused to the country’s economy due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

• The package is the largest of its kind in modern American history👀.It is far bigger than the $800 billion assistance provided in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
• The package intends to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and provide direct payments and jobless benefits for individuals, money for states and a huge bailout fund for businesses.

Background:

Since the outbreak, this is the third occasion when US lawmakers have taken measures to address the economic fallout. On March 6, US President Donald Trump approved an $8.3 billion emergency package that provided free testing for the virus, paid leave, and support for families affected by the pandemic.

Significance and expected outcomes:

• The deal aims at sustaining businesses and workers that have been losing income, as well as enabling the economy to recover once the quarantine orders are lifted.
• The support for companies is aimed towards ensuring that they keep paying wages to their employees through the crisis, despite losing business activity. The deal also provides increased support for workers who have been fired or who have had their remuneration reduced.
• The companies benefitting from the stimulus package will not be able to buy back outstanding stock, and have to maintain employment levels as of March 13, 2020, as far as possible.

South Korean model to control COVID 19 spread

The Korean Model, a vigorous regime of “trace, test, treat”👀, has shown remarkable results in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus, without putting a nationwide lockdown in place👀.

How is the situation in Korea?

Korea is now in full control of the spread of the disease. The number of new confirmed cases per day has been showing steady decline since hitting a peak at 989 in February to double-digit figures as of mid-March.

Korea might be the only country that hasn’t imposed a lockdown within its territories or even of its international borders👀.

How has this been possible? What is the ‘Korean model’?

It is grounded on concentrated testing of high-risk areas and clusters.

• Korea found out at the beginning of the spread of the virus that a certain religious cult and its gathering was the cause of a large portion of the spread in a certain area of the country. This group had massive gatherings in a closed-off space.
• The government listed all members of the group across the country, tracked their whereabouts and conducted tests on a massive scale, leading to the rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases.
• However, Korea succeeded in identifying and isolating potential cases at a very early stage and finally flattened the curve.

Other best practices followed by Korea:

The moment the virus DNA pattern was confirmed in Wuhan, Korean medical teams and bio-companies were able to develop new testing kits with surprising speed. This made it possible for Korea to conduct mass-scale testing of 18,000 cases a day.

Anybody in Korea who has symptoms or reasons to be tested can get the test within minutes at ‘drive-thru’ or ‘walk-thru’ testing centres and receive the result by text message the very next day. Korea made available over 650 testing centres nationwide.

Is it possible for India to replicate this model?

Given India’s demography and medical infrastructure, lockdowns are necessary. However, openness and transparency is important to tackling this situation, and identifying and isolating the core of the spread of the virus with full medical capacity at the earliest possible stage is key. This is the essence of the ‘Korean model’.

District mineral foundation (DMF) funds

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said state governments should use district mineral foundation (DMF) funds for response and preparedness to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

DMF funds may be used to supplement and augment healthcare facilities, screening and testing requirements and any other resources that might be required.

About DMFs:

DMFs were instituted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act 2015.

They are non-profit trusts to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations.

Objective: To work for the interest of the benefit of the persons and areas affected mining related operations in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.

Jurisdiction: Its manner of operation comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government.

The fund is collected at the district level👀. There are certain high-priority areas identified in all states’ DMF rules, where at least 60 per cent of the fund must be used. These include vital and pressing concerns, including healthcare.

The various state DMF rules and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Khestra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) guidelines stipulate some “high priority” issues for DMFs, including:

1. Drinking water.
2. Health
3. Women and child welfare.
4. Education
5. Livelihood and skill development.
6. Welfare of aged and disabled.
7. Sanitation

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY):

The programme is meant to provide for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

Objectives of the scheme:

1. To implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government.
2. To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts.
3. To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas.

National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC)

• The project CoNTeC, an acronym for COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre, has been conceptualised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and has been implemented by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

How it works?

• The CoNTeC is a Telemedicine Hub established by AIIMS, New Delhi, wherein expert doctors from various clinical domains will be available 24×7 to answer the multifaceted questionsfrom specialists from all over the country👀.
• It is a multi-modal telecommunications hub through which 2-way audio-video and text communications can be undertaken from any part of the country as well as the world at large.
• The modes of communication will include simple mobile telephony as well as two way video communications, using WhatsApp, Skype and Google Duo👀.

How to Contact the CoNTeC?

A single mobile number (+91 9115444155) can be dialled from anywhere in the coutnry/world by COVID-19 treating doctors to reach the CoNTeC which has six lines that can be used simultaneously at present👀.

Convalescent plasma therapy

As the proportion of patients infected with COVID-19 continues to rise in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is facilitating access to COVID-19 convalescent plasma for use in patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.

Why was this necessary?

While clinical trials are underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of administering convalescent plasma to patients with COVID-19, the FDA is granting clinicians permission for use of investigational convalescent plasma under single-patient emergency Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs), since no known cure exists and a vaccine is more than 1 year away from becoming available.

What is Convalescent plasma therapy? How it works?

It seeks to make use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the coronavirus.

The whole blood or plasma from such people is taken, and the plasma is then injected in critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus.

WHO guidelines in this regard:

WHO guidelines in 2014 mandate a donor’s permission before extracting plasma. Plasma from only recovered patients must be taken, and donation must be done from people not infected with HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, or any infectious disease. If whole blood is collected, the plasma is separated by sedimentation or centrifugation, then injected in the patient. If plasma needs to be collected again from the same person, it must be done after 12 weeks of the first donation for males and 16 weeks for females, the WHO guidelines state.

What is the ‘rapid test’?

To tackle suspicions of whether the novel coronavirus has spread into the community and if not prevent such a scenario, the Kerala government has announced ‘rapid tests’ that will ensure speedy results within half an hour.

What is the ‘rapid test’ for Coronavirus?

A rapid test is conducted to determine whether there has been any kind of recent viral infection in a person’s body👀.

• When a pathogen enters a human body, specific antibodies are released as a response to the virus.
• A rapid test can detect the presence of such antibodies in blood, serum or plasma samples quickly, indicating a viral infection. Rapid testing is conducted usually to check for community transmission of a virus during an epidemic.
• According to the health department, it is a simple test that can be done with a person’s blood sample and will give out results within 10-30 minutes. It is also a low-cost test.

What does Kerala’s health department plan to do?

• Rapid tests can be used to conduct screening within the community and identify those with suspected infection, put them under observation and if required, subject them to the PCR test for coronavirus confirmation.
• Kerala plans to acquire as many rapid antibody kits as possible from ICMR-NiV and begin to use them, especially on those under quarantine in areas like Kasaragod district which has reported 80 of the 181 active cases. The situation in Kasaragod is critical than in other districts and has been met with stricter lockdown measures by the administration.

NIDHI program

 A new technology has been adopted by the Maharashtra hospitals in the fight of COVID-19 fight. The technology was developed by a Pune based Start Up.

• The product is named “Scitech Airon”👀. It is a Negative Ion Generator👀.
• The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS program👀 initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)👀.

How it works?

1. The Scitech Airon ionizer machine generates negatively charged ions👀 at approximately hundred million per 8 seconds (10 ions per sec).
2. The negative ions generated by the ionizer form clusters around microparticles such as airborne mould, corona or influenza viruses, mite allergens, bacteria, pollens, dust and so on and render them inactive through a chemical reaction by creating highly reactive OH groups called hydroxyl radicals and H O which are highly reactive and known as atmospheric detergents👀.
3. The detergent property generated by the ion generator helps in the breakdown of the outer protein of the allergens, viruses, and bacteria, which helps in controlling airborne diseases.
4. It increases the body’s resistance to infections and harmful environmental factors. This resistance could be helpful for the next 20-30 days outside the ion atmosphere.
5. It also decomposes gaseous pollutants like Carbon Monoxide (1000 times more harmful than Carbon dioxide), Nitrogen dioxide, and Volatile Organic Compounds.

Significance of the technology:

It helps to control the virus, bacteria, and other fungal infections in a closed environment and could help purify the air and disinfect areas around COVID-19 positive cases and suspects. Hence it could ensure the wellbeing of the staff, doctors, and nurses who are working round the clock in quarantine facilities by enhancing their disease-resistance power and ability to fight the virus.

What is NIDHI program?

Department of Science & Technology has launched a NIDHI program (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations)👀 under which programmes for setting up of incubators, seed fund, accelerators and ‘Proof of concept’ grant for innovators and entrepreneurs have been launched.

Under NIDHI, PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring innovators & Startups)👀 programme has been initiated in which established Technology Business Incubators (TBI) are supported with PRAYAS grant to support innovators and entrepreneurs with grants for ‘Proof of Concept’ and developing prototypes.

A maximum grant of Rs. 220 lakh is given to a TBI for establishing a PRAYAS Centre which includes Rs.100 lakh for PRAYAS SHALA, Rs. 20 lakh for operational cost of PRAYAS Centre and maximum of Rs. 10 lakh to one innovator for developing prototype. Funding for ten innovators is given to the TBI in a year.

ays And Means Advances

The Reserve Bank of India has raised the limit for short term credit that the government can borrow from the central bank.

The limits for this credit facility, known as ‘Ways and Means Advances’👀, has been raised sharply to Rs 1.2 lakh crore for the first half of 2020-21.

Significance of this move:

The increased limit comes at a time when government expenditure is expected to rise as it battles the fallout of a spreading Coronavirus. The availability of these funds will government some room to undertake short term expenditure over and above its long term market borrowings.

What are Ways and Means Advances?

• They are temporary loan facilities👀 provided by RBI to the government to enable it to meet temporary mismatches between revenue and expenditure.
• The government makes an interest payment to the central bank when it borrows money.
• The rate of interest is the same as the repo rate👀, while the tenure is three months👀.
• The limits for WMA are mutually decided by the RBI and the Government of India.

Background:

The WMA scheme for the Central Government was introduced on April 1, 1997, after putting an end to the four-decade old system of adhoc (temporary) Treasury Bills to finance the Central Government deficit.

What if the government needs extra money for extra time?

When the WMA limit is crossed the government takes recourse to overdrafts👀, which are not allowed beyond 10 consecutive working days👀.

The interest rate on overdrafts would be 2 percent👀 more than the repo rate.

Types of WMA:

There are two types of Ways and Means Advances — normal and special.

Special WMA or Special Drawing Facility is provided against the collateral of the government securities held by the state. After the state has exhausted the limit of SDF, it gets normal WMA👀. The interest rate for SDF is one percentage point less than the repo rate.

The number of loans under normal WMA is based on a three-year average👀 of actual revenue and capital expenditure of the state.

Punjab Village and Small Towns Act

This British-era law was recently invoked in Panchkula to curtail movement during lockdown.

Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula has passed👀 an order under section 3 of this Act and has declared that all able-bodied male inhabitants of the villages be liable to be on patrol duty both during the day and night.

The aim of the patrol in the present case is to keep a watch on people entering villages without a valid pass and to make sure villagers follow social distancing norms👀.

What is the law?

The law was first enacted in 1918 in erstwhile Punjab👀 to make provisions for nightly patrol duty by inhabitants of small villages and towns in cases of emergency.

Implementation:

Under this Act, if the Deputy Commissioner of a district in Punjab or Haryana👀n bis of the opinion that in a village, special measures need to be taken to secure public safety, he has the power to make an order requiring all “able-bodied adult male inhabitants” to patrol the village.

The time period of the applicability of the order is up to the Deputy Commissioner and the maximum time period is up to one year.

The Deputy Commissioner shall have power to alter the number of persons required for patrol duty and the method of their selection, and shall inform the village panchayat of his decision.

Penalty and punishment:

Those who do not follow the provisions will be liable under sections 9 and 11 of the Act, which means they may have to pay a fine imposed by the village panchayat or a fine imposed by the deputy commissioner, not exceeding Rs 100.👀

What is Tablighi Jamaat?

Over 200 have tested positive for COVID-19 from among 4,000-odd who had gathered in Delhi’s Markaz Nizamuddin, 👀the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat.

What is Tablighi Jamaat?

Literally, it means a society for spreading the faith. It is a conservative Muslim organisation👀.

It is a Sunni Islamic missionary movement👀. The aim is to reach out to ordinary Muslims and revive their faith, particularly in matters of ritual, dress, and personal behaviour.

It has significant base in various countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, United States, Britain, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

How did the movement begin?

Launched by prominent Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Khandhalaw in 1926 in Mewat 👀(Haryana).

Its roots lie in the Deobandi version of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence👀.

Maulana Ilyaz trained several young men from Deoband and Saharanpur and sent them to Mewat, where the Tablighi Jamaat established a network of madrasas and Mosque.

The Tablighi Jamaat is based on six principles:

1. Kalimah, an article of faith in which the Tabligh accepts that there is no God but Allah and that Prophet Muhammad is his messenger.
2. Salaat, or prayer five times daily👀.
3. Ilm and dhikr, the knowledge and remembrance of Allah conducted in sessions in which the congregation listens to preaching by the imam, performs prayers, recites the Quran and reads the Hadith; the congregation also uses these sessions to dine together, thus fostering a sense of community and identity.
4. Ikram-i-Muslim, the treatment of fellow Muslims with honour.
5. Ikhlas-i-niyat, or sincerity of intention.
6. Dawat-o-tabligh, or proselytisaton.

Its scope:

It is estimated that the organisation has somewhere between 70-80 million followers across the world, which makes it the biggest Muslim movement in the world. In fact, outside of the Hajj, it is believed that its annual meetings in countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, bring together the largest congregations of Muslims.

What’s the criticism wrt its functioning?

While the scope of the organisation seems to be limited to spreading the Muslim faith, the group has at times been accused of having ties to radical outfits, who, as per some observers, could take advantage of its loose organisational structure. Besides, they also don’t publish the scope of their activities, their membership or source of their finances, though it is believed they do not rely on donations and are largely financed by their senior members.

How  COVID-19 outbreak slipped through China’s system?

Authorities in Wuhan maintained there was no proof of human-to-human transmission.

Studies suggest while China’s January 23 lockdown of 50 million people averted an additional 7,00,000 cases outside Wuhan, interventions one week and three weeks earlier may have brought down the number by 66% and 95%, respectively.

What led to the disaster?

1. Communication gap:Every province, city and even district in China has its own Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)👀, but these are subordinate to the health commission at every level so they do not directly report to the national level.
2. Encroachment on freedom of speech: Doctors were told that they could not speak about what was happening in Wuhan. This downplayed the severity of the situation.
3. Spread of infection: By the time the Wuhan province came under lockdown, as many as 5 million people had left.

Learning:

China finally came out in public on January 10 explaining the severing the situation. Only it was too late for the world. If they had acted earlier, say by January 7, it may have been an entirely different equation. The most important lesson is there has to be more transparency and an open environment for sharing and discussion.

What is geofencing?

The centre has tested an application that triggers e-mails and SMS alerts to an authorised government agency if a person has jumped quarantine👀 or escaped from isolation, based on the person’s mobile phone’s cell tower location. The “geo-fencing” is accurate by up to 300 m.

Background:

The States have been asked to seek the approval of their Home Secretaries under the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, for the specified mobile phone numbers to request the DoT to provide information by email or SMS in case of violation of “geo-fencing”.

What is geofencing?

It is a location-based service in which an app or other software uses GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a pre-programmed action when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits a virtual boundary set up around a geographical location, known as a geofence👀

Depending on how a geofence is configured it can prompt mobile push notifications, trigger text messages or alerts, send targeted advertisements on social media, allow tracking on vehicle fleets, disable certain technology or deliver location-based marketing data.

How geofencing works?

To make use of geofencing, an administrator or developer must first establish a virtual boundary around a specified location in GPS- or RFID-enabled software.

This virtual geofence will then trigger a response when an authorized device enters or exits that area, as specified by the administrator or developer.

Other applications of geofence:

1. Social networking.
2. Marketing
3. Audience engagement.
4. Smart appliances.
5. Human Resource management.
6. Telematics.
7. Security

e-NAM platform

Union Agriculture Minister launches new features of e-NAM platform.
They are important steps in our fight against COVID-19.

• They will strengthen agriculture marketing & reduce the need for cultivators to physically come to the mandis to sell their produce👀.

The newly launched software modules are namely:

• Warehouse based trading module in e-NAM software to facilitate trade from warehouses based on e-NWR.
• FPO trading module in e-NAM whereby FPOs can trade their produce from their collection center without bringing the produce to APMC.
• Enhanced version of logistic module has been released whereby aggregators of transport logistic platform have on boarded which helps users to avail trackable transport facilities for transporting their produce.

What is e-NAM?

E-NAM (National Agriculture Market)👀 is an online trading platform for agriculture produce aiming to help farmers, traders, and buyers with online trading and getting a better price by smooth marketing👀.

It was launched by the Centre in 2015👀 and the government had to extend it in a phased manner across the 585 mandis of the country by December 31, 2019.

Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)👀 is the lead agency for implementing eNAM under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare👀, Government of India.

NAM has the following advantages:

• For the farmers, NAM promises more options for sale. It would increase his access to markets through warehouse-based sales and thus obviate the need to transport his produce to the mandi.
• For the local trader in the mandi / market, NAM offers the opportunity to access a larger national market for secondary trading.
• Bulk buyers, processors, exporters etc. benefit from being able to participate directly in trading at the local mandi / market level through the NAM platform, thereby reducing their intermediation costs.
• The gradual integration of all the major mandis in the States into NAM will ensure common procedures for issue of licences, levy of fee and movement of produce👀.
• The NAM will also facilitate the emergence of value chains in major agricultural commodities across the country and help to promote scientific storage and movement of agri goods.

Need for:

• Fragmentation of state into multiple market areas.
• Poor quality of infrastructure and low use of technology.
• In the traditional mandi system, farmers generally procured very less price for their crops as they had to pass through various intermediaries at the physical marketplace. This not only adds costs but also handling costs.
• In addition, the farmer has to face obstacles in form of multiple tax levies and licenses and weak logistics and infrastructure in India.

What is the National Security Act?

The Uttar Pradesh government has said that six persons associated with the Tablighi Jamaat who have been accused of misbehaving with women staff at the district hospital in Ghaziabad will be charged under the National Security Act (NSA).

About National Security Act, 1980:

It allows preventive detention for months,👀 if authorities are satisfied that a person is a threat to national security or law and order.

The person does not need to be charged during this period of detention👀.

The goal is to prevent the individual from committing a crime.

It was promulgated on September 23, 1980, during the Indira Gandhi government.

As per the National Security Act, the grounds for preventive detention of a person include:

1. acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India.
2. regulating the continued presence of any foreigner in India or with a view to making arrangements for his expulsion from India.
3. preventing them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary so to do.

What the Constitution says?

Article 22 (3) (b) of the Constitution allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for reasons of state security and public order👀.

Article 22(4) states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three months👀 unless: An Advisory Board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.

The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 has reduced the period of detention without obtaining the opinion of an advisory board from three to two months. However, this provision has not yet been brought into force, hence, the original period of three months still continues.

Duration:

Under the National Security Act, an individual can be detained without a charge for up to 12 months👀; the state government needs to be intimated that a person has been detained under the NSA.

A person detained under the National Security Act can be held for 10 days without being told the charges against them👀.

Appeal: The detained person can appeal before a high court advisory board but they are not allowed a lawyer during the trial👀.

Criticisms:

The NSA has repeatedly come under criticism for the way it is used by the police. As per a Law Commission report from 2001, more than 14 lakh people (14,57,779) were held under preventive laws in India.

How Is It Draconian?

Typically, if a person is arrested, then he/she enjoy certain rights bestowed by the Indian Constitution. The person has to be informed of the reason for the arrest. Under Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the person arrested has to be informed.

• However, in the case of the NSA, the person can be held up to ten days without being informed of the reason.
• Sections 56 and 76 of the same penal code guarantee the detained person to be produced before a court within 24 hours. Apart from this, Article 22(1) of the Constitution allows the detainee to seek legal advice from a legal practitioner. However, under the NSA, none of these above mentioned basic rights is permitted to the suspect.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination

According to a  US-based research, a combination of reduced morbidity and mortality could make the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination a “game-changer” in the fight against novel coronavirus.

What is BCG Vaccine?

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB)👀.

• In countries where TB or leprosy is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as close to the time of birth as possible.
• In areas where tuberculosis is not common, only children at high risk are typically immunized, while suspected cases of tuberculosis are individually tested for and treated.

How can TB vaccine help fight COVID-19?

• The BCG vaccine contains a live but weakened strain of tuberculosis bacteria that provokes the body to develop antibodies to attack TB bacteria.
• This is called an adaptive immune response,👀 because the body develops a defense against a specific disease-causing microorganism, or pathogen, after encountering it.
• Most vaccines create an adaptive immune response to a single pathogen.
• Unlike other vaccines, the BCG vaccine may also boost the innate immune system, first-line defenses that keep a variety of pathogens from entering the body or from establishing an infection.

But, what’s the concern now?

Doctors and scientists in India have expressed caution on this study, which argues that countries that have deployed the BCG-tuberculosis vaccine in their immunisation programmes have seen fewer deaths from COVID-19.

They say, it is premature for India, that has had a consistent TB vaccination policy since 1968, to take comfort from the study.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

India seeks $6 billion loans from AIIB, ADB to combat COVID-19.

The central government is in talks with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and ADB to secure these loans to further the testing and infrastructure facilities in the country.

Background:

India has already secured $1 billion funding from the World Bank👀 to better its health sector for fighting against the coronavirus pandemic according to previous reports. The World Bank has approved a fast-track $1 billion “India COVID Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project”👀 to help India prevent, detect, and respond to the pandemic and better its public health preparedness. It was the largest ever healthcare sector support from the World Bank.

What is AIIB?

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond👀.

It is headquartered in Beijing👀.

• It commenced operations in January 2016.
• By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors today, it aims to connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.

Various organs of AIIB:

Board of Governors: The Board of Governors consists of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. Governors and Alternate Governors serve at the pleasure of the appointing member.

Board of Directors: Non-resident Board of Directors is responsible for the direction of the Bank’s general operations, exercising all powers delegated to it by the Board of Governors. This includes approving the Bank’s strategy, annual plan and budget; establishing policies; taking decisions concerning Bank operations; and supervising management and operation of the Bank and establishing an oversight mechanism👀.

International Advisory Panel: The Bank has established an International Advisory Panel (IAP) to support the President and Senior Management on the Bank’s strategies and policies as well as on general operational issues. The Panel meets in tandem with the Bank’s Annual Meeting, or as requested by the President. The President selects and appoints members of the IAP to two-year terms. Panelists receive a small honorarium and do not receive a salary. The Bank pays the costs associated with Panel meetings.

Significance of AIIB:

The United Nations has addressed the launch of AIIB as having potential for “scaling up financing for sustainable development” for the concern of global economic governance. The capital of the bank is $100 billion, equivalent to 2⁄3 of the capital of the Asian Development Bank and about half that of the World Bank.

What is 1930s Great Depression?

Context: With the novel coronavirus pandemic severely affecting the global economy, some experts have begun comparing the current crisis with the Great Depression👀 — the devastating economic decline of the 1930s that went on to shape countless world events.

What was the Great Depression?

The Great Depression was a major economic crisis that began in the United States in 1929, and went to have a worldwide impact until 1939. It began on October 24, 1929, a day that is referred to as “Black Thursday”,👀 when a monumental crash occurred at the New York Stock Exchange as stock prices fell by 25 per cent.

How it began?

While the Wall Street crash was triggered by minor events, the extent of the decline was due to more deep-rooted factors such as a fall in aggregate demand, misplaced monetary policies, and an unintended rise in inventory levels.

Impacts:

1. In the United States, prices and real output fell dramatically. Industrial production fell by 47 per cent, the wholesale price index by 33 per cent, and real GDP by 30 per cent.
2. The havoc caused in the US spread to other countries mainly due to the gold standard, which linked most of the world’s currencies by fixed exchange rates.
3. In almost every country of the world, there were massive job losses, deflation, and a drastic contraction in output.
4. Unemployment in the US increased from 3.2 per cent to 24.9 per cent between 1929 and 1933. In the UK, it rose from 7.2 per cent to 15.4 per cent between 1929 and 1932.
5. The Depression caused extreme human suffering, and many political upheavals took place around the world.
6. In Europe, economic stagnation that the Depression caused is believed to be the principal reason behind the rise of fascism, and consequently the Second World War.
7. It had a profound impact on institutions and policymaking globally, and led to the gold standard being abandoned.

How did Great Depression impact India?

1. Due to the global crisis, there was a drastic fall in agricultural prices, the mainstay of India’s economy, and a severe credit contraction occurred as colonial policymakers refused to devalue the rupee.
2. The decline of agricultural prices, which was aggravated by British financial policy in India, made substantial sections of the peasantry rise in protest and this protest was articulated by members of the National Congress.
3. The effects of the Depression became visible around the harvest season in 1930, soon after Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Civil Disobedience movement in April the same year.
4. There were “No Rent” campaigns in many parts of the country, and radical Kisan Sabhas were started in Bihar and eastern UP.
5. Agrarian unrest provided a groundswell of support to the Congress, whose reach was yet to extend into rural India.
6. The endorsement by farming classes is believed to be among the reasons that enabled the party to achieve its landslide victory in the 1936-37 provincial elections held under the Government of India Act, 1935– which significantly increased the party’s political might for years to come.

What is cytokine storm?

Of all the possible compounding effects of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the cytokine storm is one of the most feared.

How does our immune systems generally work?

1. The immune systems in our bodies protect us from bacteria, viruses, and parasites by removing them from our systems.
2. The immune system gets activated by things that the body does not recognise as its own. These things are called antigens👀, and include bacteria, fungi and viruses.
3. An effective immune system response involves inflammation, an important and indispensable part of the process.
4. Inflammation has an important protective function. The release of inflammatory mediators increases the blood flow to the area, which allows larger numbers of immune system cells to be carried to the injured tissue, thereby aiding the repairing process.
5. If this inflammatory response is not regulated, a ‘cytokine storm’👀 can be triggered.

 So, what is cytokine storm?

A cytokine storm is an overproduction of immune cells and their activating compounds (cytokines), which, in a flu infection, is often associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs. The resulting lung inflammation and fluid buildup can lead to respiratory distress and can be contaminated by a secondary bacterial pneumonia — often enhancing the mortality in patients.

Occurrence:

A cytokine storm can occur due to an infection, auto-immune condition, or other diseases. Signs and symptoms include high fever, inflammation (redness and swelling), severe fatigue, and nausea. Cytokine storms are not exclusive to coronavirus patients. It is an immune reaction that can occur during other infectious and non-infectious diseases as well.

What then, is the role of cytokines in the immune system?

Cytokines are signalling proteins👀 that are released by cells at local high concentrations — a cytokine storm or CSS is characterised by the overproduction of immune cells and the cytokines themselves because of a dysregulation in the process. A severe immune reaction, leading to the secretion of too many cytokines in the bloodstream, can be harmful since an excess of immune cells can attack healthy tissue as well.

How does CSS impact a COVID-19 patient?

In the case of any flu infection, a cytokine storm is associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs, which, instead of fighting off the antigen, leads to lung inflammation and fluid build-up, and respiratory distress.

Previous instances:

It is seen as a likely major cause of mortality in the 1918-20 “Spanish flu” — which killed more than 50 million people worldwide — and the H1N1 “swine flu” and H5N1 “bird flu” of recent years. In these epidemics, the patients most likely to die were relatively young adults with apparently strong immune reactions to the infection — whereas ordinary seasonal flu epidemics disproportionately affect the very young and the elderly.

Euro Corona bonds

Corona bonds could be a possible resolution to alleviate Eurozone financial struggles amid the coronavirus crisis. However, the idea has received mixed responses amongst the EU.

What are corona bonds?

Corona bonds would be a collective debt amongst EU member states, with the aim of providing financial relief to Eurozone countries battered by the coronavirus.

The funds would be mutualised and supplied by the European Investment Bank, with the debt taken collectively by all member states of the European Union.

What’s the issue now?

Not all countries in the European Union (EU) are in favour of this idea. The idea of corona bonds has received reinforcement from nine EU countries, all keen to reach a financial solution as soon as possible.

However, there also remains steep opposition to the idea of corona bonds. The resistance has come most notably from the ‘Frugal Four👀’. The Frugal Four consists of:

1. Germany
2. The Netherlands.
3. Finland
4. Austria

What’s the basis for opposition?

These countries are of the opinion that finance is an individual nation’s responsibility. They believe that each EU member state should keep their finances in order.

Why have corona bonds?

• The advantage of corona bonds is that they would allow European countries to gain essential financial support.
• States could receive economic aid without expanding their national debt.
• If the EU member states were able to show a display of unity, this would likely strengthen confidence amongst Europe.

Concerns:

1. A disadvantage of corona bonds is that it would not necessarily enhance debt sustainability👀.
2. The concept would only aid future debt forgiveness, distinguishing between coronavirus related debt and legacy debt.
3. The implementation of a common bond amongst EU member states could also potentially take a lot of time. The delay is not ideal for countries who require access to funds immediately.

MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme

The Union Cabinet has approved a 30% cut in the salaries of all Members of Parliament👀 and a two-year suspension of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme👀 so that the amount saved can go to the Consolidated Fund of India to fight COVID-19.

In this regard, it approved an ordinance to amend the Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, to cut the salaries of MPs by 30%.

Now, the consolidated amount of MPLAD Funds for 2 years – Rs 7,900 crores – will go to Consolidated Fund of India.

About MPLAD scheme:

What is it?

It was launched in December, 1993👀, to provide a mechanism for the Members of Parliament to recommend works of developmental nature for creation of durable community assets and for provision of basic facilities including community infrastructure, based on locally felt needs.

• The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India👀. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crore👀.

Special focus:

• MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population👀 and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by S.T.👀 population.
• In order to encourage trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people, a ceiling of Rs. 75 lakh is stipulated for building assets by trusts and societies subject to conditions prescribed in the scheme guidelines.

Works under the scheme:

Works, developmental in nature, based on locally felt needs and always available for the use of the public at large, are eligible under the scheme. Preference under the scheme is given to works relating to national priorities, such as provision of drinking water, public health, education, sanitation, roads, etc.

Release of Funds:

• Funds are released in the form of grants in-aid 👀directly to the district authorities.
• The funds released under the scheme are non-lapsable.
• The liability of funds not released in a particular year is carried forward to the subsequent years, subject to eligibility.

Execution of works:

The MPs have a recommendatory role under the scheme👀. They recommend their choice of works to the concerned district authorities who implement these works by following the established procedures of the concerned state government. The district authority is empowered to examine the eligibility of works sanction funds👀 and select the implementing agencies, prioritise works, supervise overall execution, and monitor the scheme at the ground level.

Recommendation of works:

1. The Lok Sabha Members can recommend works in their respective constituencies👀.
2. The elected members of the Rajya Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the state from which they are elected👀.
3. Nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select works for implementation anywhere in the country👀.

What is Article 142?

Invoking special powers under Article 142, the Supreme Court has deemed all restrictions imposed on people from entering, attending or taking part in court hearings as lawful in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Important observations made by the Court:

1. These restrictions were in tune with the social distancing norms and best public health practices advocated to contain the contagion.
2. Every individual and institution is expected to cooperate in the implementation of measures designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. The scaling down of conventional operations within the precincts of courts is a measure in that direction.
3. This is not a matter of discretion but of duty. It is necessary that courts at all levels respond to the call of social distancing and ensure that court premises do not contribute to the spread of virus.

 Rationale behind these observations:

Access to justice is fundamental to preserve the rule of law in the democrac👀y envisaged by the Constitution of India. The challenges occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 have to be addressed while preserving the constitutional commitment to ensuring the delivery of and access to justice to those who seek it. However, public health takes precedence over conventions.

Guidelines by the Supreme Court:

1. Judiciary would have to improvise and continue to bank heavily on“videoconferencing technologies”👀 in the wake of this “unprecedented and extraordinary outbreak of a pandemic”.
2. High Courts should decide the modalities for the temporary transition to the use of videoconferencing technologies in their respective States.
3. District courts in each State would adopt the mode of videoconferencing prescribed by the respective High Courts.
4. Helplines would be set up to receive and rectify technical complaints.
5. The courts should make available videoconferencing facility for litigants who do not have it or appoint an amicus curiae.
6. In no case shall evidence be recorded without the mutual consent of both the parties by videoconferencing. If it is necessary to record evidence in a courtroom, the presiding officer shall ensure that appropriate distance is maintained between any two individuals in the court.

What is Article 142?

Article 142 “provide(s) a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, i.e., where at times law or statute may not provide a remedy, the Court can extend itself to put a quietus to a dispute in a manner which would befit the facts of the case.

Article 142(1) states that “The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or order so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe”.

How countries are dealing with the surge in domestic violence under COVID-19 lockdown?

Both the United Nations and the Council of Europe have expressed concern about the increase in domestic violence in various countries during lockdowns due to the coronavirus.

Generally, women and children are at greater risk of abuse within their own homes during this period.

How is the situation worldwide since the announcement of lockdown?

• Since the lockdown, in France👀, the number of domestic violence reports made to the police had gone up by 36 per cent in Paris, and 32 per cent in the rest of the country, including two murders.
• In the UK👀, since the lockdown started, the National Domestic Abuse helpline saw a 25 per cent👀 rise in calls and online requests for help.
• In the US👀, where gun sales have been setting record highs during the pandemic, many have expressed an increased sentiment of alarm about the welfare of women and children.
• In India too, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has flagged the issue of a spike in cases of domestic violence since the enforcement of the national lockdown.

How are countries handling the situation?

France:

• Setup EUR 1 million to fund relief organisations working against domestic abuse, to help them cater to the increased number of requests for help.
• Promised to open up pop-up counselling centres and pay for hotel rooms for domestic violence victims.
• Victims have also been encouraged to seek help at pharmacies discreetly.

Italy:

• The government has launched an app that enables domestic violence victims to seek help without making a phone call.
• A proposal to allocate EUR 4 million for shelters for victims is also being considered.

Scotland:

The government announced grants of over GBP 1.5 million for Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland over six months to ensure that access to support services is maintained.

Protection of women against domestic violence in India:

What is Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005?

1. It is an act to provide for more effective protection of the rights of Women guaranteed under the Constitution who are victims of violence of any kind occurring within the family and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
2. Domestic Violence Act 2005 is the first significant👀 attempt in India to recognise domestic abuse as a punishable offence, to extend its provisions to those in live-in relationships, and to provide for emergency relief for the victims, in addition to legal recourse. It extends to the whole of India except the State Jammu & Kashmir👀.
3. It aims to protect women from physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse at home.

Besides, in 1983, domestic Violence was recognised as a specific criminal offence by the introduction of section 498A into the Indian penal code👀. This section deals with cruelty by husband or his family towards a married woman.

 UN Women

The UN Women has urged member-states to include prevention of violence against women in their action plans on COVID-19. It has also called the rise in gender-based violence a “shadow pandemic”👀.

Other suggestions made by UN Women:

1. Member states should consider shelters and helplines essential services.
2. Helplines, psychosocial support and online counselling should be boosted, using technology-based solutions such as SMS, online tools and networks to expand social support, and to reach women with no access to phones or Internet.
3. Police and justice services must mobilise to ensure that incidents of violence against women and girls are given high priority with no impunity for perpetrators.

Why these measures are necessary?

Globally 243 million women and girls aged 15-49 have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months. The number is likely to increase as security, health and money worries heighten tensions and strains are accentuated by cramped and confined living conditions.

How lockdown is worsening the situation?

According to emerging data, violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has ‘intensified’.

1. As per data compiled by the U.N. body, France👀 has seen a 30% increase in domestic violence since the lockdown on March 17.
2. In Argentina, emergency calls for domestic violence cases have increased by 25% since the lockdown on March 20 and Cyprus (30%), Singapore (33%) have also registered an increase in calls.
3. Canada, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. have also registered an increase in cases of domestic violence and demand for emergency shelter.

About UN Women: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women:

UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women👀, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment:

• Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW).
• International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).
• Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI).
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

The main roles of UN Women are:

• To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms.
• To help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
• To hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID)

So far, India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). All these have been shared by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology.

 Background:

Early in March, India became the fifth country in the world to sequence the genome of the novel Coronavirus, or Covid-19👀, and share its data with the international community.

What is genomic sequencing?

Genomic sequencing is a technique that allows us to read and interpret genetic information found within DNA or RNA👀.

Why is it important to understand the genomic sequence of COVID-19?

The SARS-CoV2 genome, as it is formally known, has about 30,000 base pairs, somewhat like a long string with 30,000 places where each one of these occupy one of four chemicals called nucleotides.

This long string, with its unique combination of nucleotides, is what uniquely identifies the virus and is called its genomic sequence. A look at virus genome sequences from patient samples that test positive for COVID-19 helps researchers to understand how the virus is evolving as it spreads. So far, there are over 1,000 COVID-19 genomes that have been published worldwide.

Therefore, sequencing is necessary because:

1. It helps track the transmission route of the virus globally.
2. It can determine how quickly the virus is adapting as it spreads.
3. It identifies targets to therapies.
4. It is required to understand the role of co-infection.

What is GISAID?

It is a public platform started by the WHO in 2008 for countries to share genome sequences.

• Created as an alternative to the public domain sharing model, GISAID’s sharing mechanism took into account the concerns of Member States by providing a publicly accessible database designed by scientist for scientist, to improve the sharing of influenza data.
• In 2010 the Federal Republic of Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.
• In 2013 the European Commission recognized GISAID as a research organization and partner in the PREDEMICS consortium, a project on the Preparedness, Prediction and the Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using multidisciplinary approaches.

GISAID’s database access agreement ensures that contributors of genetic sequence data do not forfeit their intellectual property rights to the data.

Online training platform- iGOT

The Department of Personnel and Training👀 launches online training platform- iGOT in the fight against COVID-19. The platform is called iGOT — Integrated Government Online Training👀.

What is it for?

It offers online training👀 for doctors, nurses, paramedics, hygiene workers, technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMS), central & state govt. officers, civil defence officials, various police organisations, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Bharat Scouts & Guides (BSG) and other volunteers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key features of the platform:

• It is set to be hosted on the Human Resources Development Ministry’sDIKSHA platform👀.
• The iGOT platform delivers curated, role-specific content, to each learner at their place of work or home and to any device of their choice.

The platform currently hosts nine courses on topics like:

1. Basics of COVID.
2. ICU Care and Ventilation Management.
3. Clinical Management, Infection Prevention through PPE.
4. Infection Control and Prevention.
5. Quarantine and Isolation.
6. Laboratory Sample Collection and Testing.
7. Management of COVID 19 Cases.
8. COVID 19 Training.

Need for and significance of this platform:

India’s first line of workers are already engaged in COVID-19 relief. But “a larger force will be needed to replace the first line” and to deal with “exponential or geometric increase” in COVID-19 positive cases in the subsequent stages of the pandemic.

Hence, the platform can be useful to combat COVID-19 for all front-line workers and equip them with the training and updates in coping with the pandemic. It provides a one-stop source to learn about critical areas and update their knowledge and capacity.

What is Diksha portal?

• DIKSHA Portal is an initiative of HRD ministry👀 for providing a digital platform to teacher to make their lifestyle more digital.
• Diksha portal launched with a tagline“National Digital Infrastructures for Our Teacher 👀”.
• The portal will consist the whole teacher’s life cycle – from the time they were enrolled as student teachers in Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) to after they retire as teachers.
• Teacher can learn and train themselves for which assessment resources will be available.
• It will help teachers boost their teaching skills and create their own profile with their skills and knowledge.

UN Peacekeeping

UN chief Antonio Guterres👀 has suspended the rotation and deployment of peacekeepers👀 until June 30 to mitigate the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus.

What is peacekeeping? It’s significance?

United Nations Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support. Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council👀. The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN Member States👀. According to UN Charter every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping. 

 Composition:

UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel. Peacekeeping forces are contributed by member states on a voluntary basis.  Civilian staff of peace operations are international civil servants, recruited and deployed by the UN Secretariat.

Features:

• United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace.
• Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates.

UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:

1. Consent of the parties.
2. Impartiality
3. Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Global partnership:

UN peacekeeping is a unique global partnership. It brings together the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police contributors and the host governments in a combined effort to maintain international peace and security.

Coronavirus containment plan

India has prepared a “containment” plan, essentially an updated version of an earlier Health Ministry blueprint that was drawn up when the only COVID-19 cases were those coming from abroad.

What are the components of the containment plan?

The plan outlines a strategic approach based on the stage of transmission👀.

Five stages have been identified — travel-related case reported in India; local transmission; large outbreaks amenable to containment; widespread community transmission; India becoming endemic for COVID-19.

The plan is subject to revisions if required, as and when there is greater clarity about some of these aspects.

What is the approach recommended for the various stages?

Containment of local transmission:

1. Extensive contact tracing and search for cases in the containment zone.
2. Testing all suspect cases and high-risk contacts.
3. Isolating all suspect or confirmed cases.
4. Quarantining contacts and social distancing.

For larger outbreaks, in addition to the usual measures:

There is higher focus on a particular geographic zone and hospitals around the area are prepared for a rise in cases. In addition, all asymptomatic healthcare workers are to be given hydroxychloroquine👀 as a preventive.

How are confirmed and suspected cases to be dealt with?

1. All suspect/confirmed COVID-19 cases will be hospitalized and kept in isolation👀 in dedicated COVID-19 hospitals/hospital blocks.
2. Persons testing positive for COVID-19 will remain hospitalized till such time as two of their samples are tested negative as per discharge policy.
3. To reduce the burden on hospitals, there is a plan to temporarily convert hotels/ hostels/ guesthouses/ stadiums near a COVID-19 hospital as care centres where mild cases may be kept.
4. Dedicated COVID-19 hospitals/dedicated blocks in large hospitals will be identified and operationalized.
5. Moderate to severe cases, who require monitoring of their clinical status (patients with radiological evidence of pneumonia) will be admitted to COVID hospital. For more severe cases requiring respiratory or other support, tertiary care centres both private and government will be included as part of the micro plan.

Differential approach:

The plan has differential approach to different regions of the country, while mounting a strong containment effort in hot spots.

The Health Ministry has issued directions for categorisation of designated facilities into three groups — COVID care centres, COVID health centres and dedicated COVID hospitals.

1. The care centres will be for cases clinically assigned as mild or very mild, or suspected cases.
2. The health centres are hospitals that will offer care for all cases that have been clinically assigned as moderate.
3. The dedicated hospitals will offer comprehensive care, primarily for those clinically assigned as severe.

Protection of healthcare personnel:

The plan reiterates the need for adequate PPE.

1. At all times doctors, nurses and para-medics working in the clinical areas will wear three-layered surgical mask and gloves👀.
2. The medical personnel working in isolation and critical care facilities where aerozolisation is anticipated👀, will wear full complement of PPE (including N95 masks).
3. The support staff engaged in cleaning and disinfection will also wear full complement of PPE👀
4. Environmental cleaning should be done twice daily and consist of damp dusting and floor mopping with Lysol or other phenolic disinfectants and cleaning of commonly touched surfaces with sodium hypochlorite solution👀.
5. Sodium hypochlorite is already being used extensively, including in the Nizamuddin headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat.

“State of the World’s Nursing” report

 WHO, along with the International Council of Nurses (ICN)👀 and the Nursing Now campaign, has released a report titled, “State of the World’s Nursing”.

 Key findings and observations- Areas of concern:

1. Globally, there are roughly 36.9 nurses per 10,000 people👀, with variations within and across regions.
2. There are almost 10 times more nurses in the Americas than in the African region. While there are 83.4 nurses per 10,000 population in the former, there are 8.7 nurses per 10,000 population in the latter.
3. By 2030, there will be a shortage of over 5.7 million nurses worldwide.
4. The largest shortfall in absolute numbers is in the South-East Asian region, while in the Americas and Europe, the problem is different since they are facing an ageing nursing workforce.
5. Moreover, a number of high-income countries in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and American regions are “exclusively” dependent on migrant nurses.
6. As nurses and other medical workers are at the frontlines of this global pandemic, some of the key issues they face include shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks, eye-protective gear and gloves, and also the psychological stress faced by some medical staff.

 What needs to be done?

Governments should invest in nursing education, jobs and leadership. Some of these measures include remunerating nurses according to the prevalent local, national and international labour market conditions.

 Need for recognition of their works:

The report highlights that work nurses do is critical in fulfilling national and global targets related to universal health care, mental health, noncommunicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, among others such goals.

• Within the healthcare sector, nurses play a critical role. They comprise the largest component of health professionals, at over 59 per cent — or 27.9 million in absolute numbers — underling that their role, especially during the current health crisis, is paramount.
• Overall, nurses are important in ensuring the quality of care delivered to a patient, preventing and controlling infections and combating antimicrobial resistance.

State of Nursing in India:

1. As of 2018, there were over 1.56 million nurses in India and 772,575 nursing associates. Out of this, the share of professional nurses is 67 per cent, with 322,827 graduating every year with a minimum training period of four years.
2. Within the health workforce, nurses comprise 47 per cent of the medical staff, followed by doctors (23.3 per cent), dentists (5.5 per cent) and pharmacists (24.1 per cent).
3. Further, an overwhelming majority of the nurses are women — 88 per cent in India. This is in line with the composition of nursing seen globally as well, where 90 per cent are women.

Role of Armed forces in coronavirus outbreak battle

Army has moved in to take over the COVID-19 quarantine facility at Narela in Delhi. This has brought into focus the role of army in such situations, procedure to be followed and provisions in this regard.

What Armed Forces have done so far?

1. 6 quarantine facilities in Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai. 15 other facilities on standby, capacity of approximately 7,000.
2. 51 armed forces hospitals are preparing dedicated COVID-19 facilities including High Dependency Units (scaled-down version of an Intensive Care Unit), and ICU beds.
3. 5 testing labs at armed forces hospitals made part of national grid.
4. Six more hospitals to be equipped with the resources to begin COVID-19 testing.
5. Special IAF flights have evacuated people and carried medical supplies.
6. 60 tonnes of stores airlifted by IAF transport fleet has airlifted approximately to various parts of the country. Twenty-eight fixed wing and 21 helicopters are on standby.
7. 6 Naval ships kept ready for assistance to neighbouring countries.Five medical teams also on standby for deployment in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

So, what is the procedure for calling the armed forces to help the civil administration?

The procedure for requisitioning armed forces is governed under ‘Aid to Civil Authorities’ under the guidelines laid in Instructions on Aid to the Civil Authorities by the Armed Forces, 1970, Regulations for the Army and Manual of Indian Military Law.

• Civil administration requests the Local Military Authority for assistance, for the maintenance of law and order, maintenance of essential services, disaster relief and other types of assistance.
• Armed forces can be asked to provide troops and equipment for a flag march, rescue and relief, evacuation, and immediate aid.

Key facts:

• Providing aid to civil authorities, as and when called upon to do so, is a secondary task for the armed forces. It cannot replace the primary role of ensuring external security and operational preparedness.
• The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by the cabinet secretary, is the final authority to decide on the number of armed forces personnel that can be deployed to aid civil authority.

What are the tasks expected to be performed in checking the spread of COVID-19?

1. Maintenance of law and order.
2. Crowd control and curfew in sensitive areas.
3. Evacuation of civilians from affected areas.
4. Provision of essential supply of electricity and water.
5. Restoration of essential services.
6. Emergency feeding and shelter.
7. Prevention of panic, prevention of theft and loot.
8. Guarding quarantine locations and detention centres.
9. Surveillance through drones aerial platforms.

Who pays for the costs incurred by the armed forces in these roles?

The civil administration👀. The cost of assistance provided by the Armed Forces is recovered in accordance with the instructions contained in Appendix ‘H’ to the Pamphlet ‘Instructions on Aid to Civil Authorities by the Armed Forces 1970’.

How is WHO funded?

US President Donald Trump is planning to put a hold on America’s funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of becoming China-centric during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

• How much will Trump’s threat of stopping funds impact WHO?
  The US is the largest contributor to the WHO. The US share is part of the assessed contributions, which is more like a membership fee, calculated on the basis of a country’s wealth and population, payable on January 1 each year.
• The share of assessed contributions in WHO’s annual budget has declined over the years, to the extent that they now constitute just 24%. The rest is through voluntary contributions not just from member nations but also from private organisations.
• Besides, as of January 31, the US still hasn’t paid the dues for 2019 or for 2020, amounting to almost $200 million. Therefore, the impact would not be much on WHO.

Implications:

If Trump does decide to block the US’ contribution, the WHO can suspend the country’s voting rights and deny access to its services, as per Article 7 of its Constitution.

About WHO:

WHO came into existence on 7 April, 1948 – a date which is now celebrated every year as World Health Day. The organisation has more than 7,000 people working in 150 country offices, six regional offices and at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

How WHO is governed?

1. The World Health Assembly (delegations from all members countries) determines the policies of the organisation.
2. The executive board is composed of members technically qualified in health, and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the health assembly.
3. Its core function is to direct and coordinate international health work through collaboration.

How is the WHO funded?

There are four kinds of contributions that make up funding for the WHO.These are:

1. Assessed contributions are the dues countries pay in order to be a member of the Organization. The amount each Member State must pay is calculated relative to the country’s wealth and population.
2. Voluntary contributions come from Member States (in addition to their assessed contribution) or from other partners. They can range from flexible to highly earmarked.
3. Core voluntary contributions allow less well-funded activities to benefit from a better flow of resources and ease implementation bottlenecks that arise when immediate financing is lacking.
4. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Contributions were started in 2011 to improve and strengthen the sharing of influenza viruses with human pandemic potential, and to increase the access of developing countries to vaccines and other pandemic related supplies.

WHO’s current funding pattern:

As of fourth quarter of 2019, total contributions were around $5.62 billion, with assessed contributions accounting for $956 million, specified voluntary contributions $4.38 billion, core voluntary contributions $160 million, and PIP contributions $178 million.

Largest contributions:

1. The United States is currently the WHO’s biggest contributor, making up 14.67 per cent of total funding by providing $553.1 million.
2. The US is followed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation forming 9.76 per cent or $367.7 million.
3. The third biggest contributor is the GAVI Vaccine Alliance at 8.39 per cent, with the UK (7.79 per cent) and Germany (5.68 per cent) coming fourth and fifth respectively.
4. The four next biggest donors are international bodies: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (5.09 per cent), World Bank (3.42 per cent), Rotary International (3.3 per cent), and the European Commission (3.3 per cent). India makes up 0.48 per cent of total contributions, and China 0.21 per cent.

Allocation of funds:

• Out of the total funds, $1.2 billion is allotted for the Africa region, $1.02 billion for Eastern Mediterranean region, $963.9 million for the WHO headquarters, followed by South East Asia ($198.7 million), Europe ($200.4 million), Western Pacific ($152.1 million), and Americas (39.2 million) regions respectively. India is part of the South East Asia region.
• The biggest programme area where the money is allocated is polio eradication (26.51 per cent), followed by increasing access to essential health and nutrition services (12.04 per cent), and preventable diseases vaccines (8.89 per cent).

EU €500bn corona rescue deal

The European Union (EU) has unveiled a grand €500bn corona rescue deal to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic across Europe.

The deal is on safety nets for workers, businesses and public finances, as well as on a recovery plan.

What are the measures for people and firms?

1. A safety net for healthcare systems.
2. Safety nets for workers and the self-employed.
3. Access to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM): Governments can apply for access to a total of €240 billion being made available under ESM, the bailout fund created during the eurozone debt crisis.
4. Under the safety net for companies, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are to be helped via an EU-wide loan scheme.

Other recently announced measures:

1. The new measures come on top of money channelled by national governments to bolster health and other public services, and support workers and industries.
2. Countries have also pledged to make sure sectors in trouble have access to cash, via public guarantees and deferred tax payments.
3. Last month the European Central Bank announced a package worth €750 billion to buy up government and company debt across the eurozone.

What isn’t addressed by the measures?

• The rescue package concerns only short-term economic measures to deal with the immediate impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
• But it does not deal with the thorny question of how to pay for the longer-term reconstruction effort in the aftermath.
• There are big disagreements over how what’s called the “EU Recovery Fund” will take shape.

Charting a Common Minimum Relief Programme

With India likely to experience an economic crisis because of lockdown, it is time for the Centre to chart a Common Minimum Relief Programme.

The economic pandemic that is likely to succeed COVID-19 threatens to be as large in scale if not larger than the public health crisis that we continue to battle.

Need of the hour:

1. States should come up with varying measures for support and relief.
2. Centre must lead this effort to ensure uniformity, optimisation and coordination amongst States of varying economic capability.
3. The road map should provide forward guidance and economic clarity to the middle class, medium and small-scale enterprises and above all, to those at the very margins of society.

The focus should be mainly on:

1. Daily wage earners, labourers and migrant workers. They are at the greatest risk of economic and social insecurity.
2. Small and marginal farmers are in dire need of immediate support.
3. Supply chain disruptions for fast moving consumer goods due to unavailability of labour, difficulty in transporting goods across borders during the lockdown. This is leading to a shortage of foodstuffs and other essential items.
4. Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises. There are currently close to 4.25 crore registered MSMEs which contribute 29% to India’s GDP (or nearly 61 lakh crores) and these have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis imperilling, in turn, the livelihood of crores.
5. Middle class for they are facing growing vulnerability.

What needs to be done?

• There should be a uniform mechanism for the dispersal of both income support as well as essential items such as rice, wheat, millets, medicines, water and anything else that vulnerable families will require.
• To ensure the agriculture problem doesn’t become cyclical, the government needs to make immediate arrangements for ensuring the availability of fertilisers, pesticides, other inputs (including access to lines of credit) for the planting of the next kharif crop as well.
• For Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises, the government must lay out an action plan, including a financial package, to fortify this sector or risk see it perish.
• NYAY(Nyunatam Aay Yojana), the Minimum Income Guarantee Programme. The Central government must devise and implement this scheme, at least as a temporary measure.

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