Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, a US$1.3 billion fund will be established to bolster Indian pharma and promote domestic manufacturing to reduce import dependency. The report, published in BloombergQuint, identifies “supply chain disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic” as the rationale behind the decision, noting that Indian pharma’s reliance on China […]
COVID-19
COVID-19 cases in India cross the 500 mark
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India now number in excess of 500, while the death toll has risen to ten due to the pandemic. At the time of writing, India has confirmed 519 COVID-19 cases to date. Of these, there are 469 active cases with forty having recovered from the disease. At the global level, the […]
Janata Curfew sees health workers praised
The Janata Curfew which saw millions of Indians nationwide self-quarantine for fourteen hours led to an outpouring of thanks for the country’s health workers. The mass felicitation witnessed Indians across the nation who heeded Modi’s call for the Janata curfew to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic to applaud and ring bells in honour of the healthcare […]
COVID-19 lockdown as cases reach 400+
To combat the coronavirus pandemic, a COVID-19 lockdown has been ordered by the Centre which will include provisions for violators to face legal action. COVID-19 cases in India have touched 435 with its ninth confirmed fatality due to the virus. A fourteen-hour Janata curfew was observed over the weekend, with millions of Indians confining themselves […]
PandemiCast 2: How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the news cycle
The second weekly PandemiCast panel discussion, focusing on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the news cycle and the spread of misinformation online. Watch the first PandemiCast edition here.
COVID-19 deaths in India reach five
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in India have touched five, with an Italian tourist in the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur becoming the fifth confirmed fatality due to the virus. At the time of writing, confirmed COVID-19 cases number at 255,290 worldwide. COVID-19 deaths have crossed the 10,000 mark, numbering now at 10,456 worldwide. COVID-19 cases affect […]
Coronavirus testing at private facilities
Private facilities will be roped into the efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic with the announcement they will be permitted to conduct coronavirus testing. The decision was made by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They have said they would permit privately-run laboratories deemed to be of “high quality” to test for coronavirus. The […]
Baba Ramdev in hot water over coronavirus claims
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has attracted criticism following controversial claims concerning the ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Ramdev, who uses the honorific title “Swami Ramdev” in addition to “Baba”, has reportedly angered public health professionals following his suggestion that Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic remedy and common component of traditional medicine in India, could […]
Coronavirus cases exceed 200,000
Confirmed novel coronavirus cases to date now exceed 200,000, including 152 cases in India. At the time of writing, a total of 204,069 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, of which 112,953 are active. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority (94 percent) of current coronavirus patients are in mild condition, translating to 106,519 people. The remaining six […]
Bloomberg Philanthropies steps up in coronavirus fight
Bloomberg Philanthropies is to roll out a US$40 million programme to tackle novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Coronavirus Global Response Initiative aims to provide support to low- and middle-income countries, with an emphasis on Africa, to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The Initiative will look at both preventing cases […]