CIVIL SNIPPETS

Cases doubled in 4.1 days due to Tablighi Jamaat event: govt. #GS2
#Governance

India’s death toll from COVID-19 rose to 83 on Sunday, with 11 fatalities since Saturday. The number of
confirmed infections across the country stood at 3,577 cases, with 505 new cases; 274 persons have
recovered, the Union Health Ministry said.

“We are chasing the virus rather than the other way around and India’s strategy continues to be
preventive. We rather be over prepared,” Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said
at Sunday’s press briefing.

The Ministry maintained that last month’s Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi has pushed up the doubling
rate of cases in India to 4.1 days from the estimated 7.4 days.

Reports from State Health Departments put the death toll across the country at 127, with 3,603 active
cases. The maximum number of cases continued to be reported from Maharashtra at 748, with 13
fatalities in the past 24 hours. Tamil Nadu followed with 559 active cases, reporting two fatalities since
Saturday.

Stating that there is no evidence to suggest airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus, head of
Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases with the Indian Council of Medical Research Raman
Gangakhedkar said rapid antibody-based blood test for COVID-19 would be deployed by Wednesday for
high prevalence areas and hotspots across India.

Asked about concerns raised by doctors of AIIMS, Delhi, and other cities on the shortage of personal
protective equipment (PPE), Mr. Agarwal said the situation should ease in a few days.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/cases-doubled-in-41-days-due-to-tablighi-jamaat-event-
govt/article31265743.ece

Rapid antibody testing for hotspots first: ICMR #GS3 #SnT

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said the rapid antibody-based blood test for COVID-19
will be deployed by this Wednesday in clusters and hotspots showing high incidence of confirmed cases.

Raman R. Gangakhedkar, head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases Division of the ICMR,
explained that overall testing for COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR), a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA, is increasing
and that India would be approaching full capacity soon.

“At the same time, we are expecting delivery of rapid test kits (blood-based) for use in response to
COVID-19 situation. By Wednesday, this should be up and running,” he added.

The Health Ministry added that all States/UTs had been issued guidelines for implementing these tests
and reports may be entered into the ICMR portal, similar to results of real-time RT PCR tests for COVID-
19.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/rapid-antibody-testing-for-hotspots-first-
icmr/article31265740.ece

Delhi lab to offer ‘drive-through test’ #GS3 #SnT

To work around the challenges of home-based testing in the country, Dr. Dangs Lab (DDL) plans to offer
‘drive-through test’ for COVID-19.

South Korea leads the world in the number of tests per million to check for coronavirus infection and
it has been able to do it, partly, by allowing those who feel sick to drive up to a test centre where
nurses wearing protective gear collect a nose or throat sample from the car itself. Results are mailed
or messaged in a day. This method of mass testing has allowed reduced contact between patients and
healthcare workers, thereby lessening the chances of transmission.

“Inspired” by the South Korean approach, Arjun Dang, CEO, DDL, said the test would conform with the
guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research that mandates only those who have a doctor’s
prescription to be offered a test.
“What we have seen so far is that many are uncomfortable with the home collection process. They are
worried that lab personnel — despite being fully protected — may infect family members,” Dr. Arjun
told The Hindu.

Testing apprehensions

Navin Dang, president, DDL, said that some people are worried that lab personnel visiting home in full
protective gear would scare the neighbours. “There are also instances when spouses of some of our own
lab personnel have been told by their partners to live separately for a month. It’s to address such
concerns that we are offering this facility,” he said.

The drive-through test, which the lab will begin to offer at its Punjabi Bagh centre in west Delhi from
Monday, would require those wanting a test to pre-register, pay online and provide details of their car.
There would be a 30-metre gap between cars.

“A stretch in the parking lot will be used for this purpose. The cars will be parked in designated spots,
windows rolled down, samples collected and they will drive off. Each test should take about 20
minutes,” Dr. Arjun said.

Testing for COVID-19 costs Rs. 4,500 and the drive-through test cost will be “similar”, he added, but
didn’t specify the exact price. People are already signing up online for the test, but the days ahead are
likely to see an uptick in such visits, he said.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/delhi-lab-to-offer-drive-through-test/article31265918.ece

Nurses move SC, say health staff ill-equipped #GS3 #SnT #GS2 #Governance
A Kerala-based 3.8 lakh-strong nurses’ association has approached the Supreme Court saying the
government has not formulated a National Management Protocol for COVID-19 to address the serious
concerns relating to imminent and extreme risks posed to the health and safety of medical personnel
across the country.

Noting that the pandemic is seeing a “persisting and ever escalating spread” the United Nurses
Association, represented by advocates Subhash Chandran and Biju P. Raman, pointed out that nurses
and health workers are ill-equipped and exposed to infection.

“Health care workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed
to hazards that put them at risk of infection. Hazards include pathogen exposure, long working hours,
psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma, and physical and psychological violence
etc,” the petition said.

No testing kits

The problems highlighted in the petition include lack of availability or sub-standard personal protective
equipment(PPE) in numerous hospitals, non-availability of sufficient number of COVID-19 testing kits,
lack of training on infection prevention and control, lack of basic facilities in isolation wards, mental
harassment in the nature of forced over-time followed by negligible transport facilities and deduction of
salary on account of leaves, health workers who are pregnant, lactating or immune compromised are
being forced to work.

The association also urged the court to direct the government to expand the scope of personal accident
cover provided under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19
to include all health care workers.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/nurses-move-sc-say-health-
staff-ill-equipped/article31265718.ece

Tests, treatment free under Ayushman Bharat #GS3 #SnT #GS2 #Governance
The Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of COVID-19 under the
Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

This, it notes, will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to get free testing and treatment in
designated private hospitals across India.

Confirming this, Indu Bhushan, CEO of Ayushman Bharat, said this would allow beneficiaries to get
timely and standard treatment.

The announcement comes after India registered an increase of 302 cases in the 12 hours to Sunday
morning. The total number of positive cases has risen to 3,374 in India (including 3,030 active cases, 267
cured/discharged/migrated people and 77 deaths), according to the Health Ministry.

Giving details, Dr. Bhushan said: “The empanelled hospitals can use their own authorised testing
facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility for the scheme. These tests would be carried out as
per the protocol set by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and by private labs
approved/registered by the ICMR. Similarly, treatment of COVID-19 by private hospitals will be covered
under AB-PMJAY.”

The objective of the decision was to increase the supply of testing and treatment facilities and increase
access by roping in the private sector through AB-PMJAY scheme as per the ICMR guidelines, he said.

Private sector

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that “in this unprecedented crisis we have to very actively
involve the private sector as a key partner and stakeholder in the fight against COVID-19. Making testing
and treatment available under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY will significantly expand our capacities by
including private sector hospitals and labs and mitigate the adverse impact of this catastrophic illness on
the poor.”
He added that States were in the process of enlisting private sector hospitals that could be converted
into COVID-19 only hospitals.

Information on symptoms, testing and treatment for the disease can be accessed from the website of
the Health Ministry and by calling the national COVID-19 helpline 1075.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tests-treatment-free-under-ayushman-
bharat/article31265654.ece

India bans export of hydroxychloroquine #GS3 #SnT

India has changed its official policy and prohibited export of hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has uses in
the treatment of COVID-19, hours before U.S. President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to release the quantity of the drug that the U.S. had ordered.

The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had prohibited the export of the drug on March 25. But
it left the option of export open to fulfil “export obligation” and on “humanitarian grounds”.

On April 4, the DGFT issued a new notification, ending the exception mentioned in the previous order.
As a result, India will not export hydroxychloroquine even “against full advance payment”. “The export
of hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from hydroxychloroquine, therefore, shall remain
prohibited, without any exception,” said the notification issued by the DGFT on Saturday.

The Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to questions on the sudden change in the policy.
Following Saturday’s phone conversation, the Ministry said Mr. Modi conveyed India’s “deep
condolences” to Mr. Trump for the loss of lives in the U.S.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-bans-export-of-
hydroxychloroquine/article31265675.ece

Railways mulls post-lockdown protocols #GS3 #Economy

From making passengers wear masks to using the Arogya Setu app to check their health status before
allowing them to travel and encouraging physical distancing on board are a few proposals that the
Railways is mulling over as it prepares to gear for the end of the 21-day lockdown on April 14.

While no decision has yet been taken on when the passenger services will be resumed, officials said it is
likely to be done in a phased manner.

A decision, officials said, is likely to be taken in the coming week on how to restore services. The
Railways, officials said, had discussed the option of resuming services only on specific approval of each
train from the Railway Board. Suggestions for phase-wise resumption of services have to be provided by
the zone to the board.
“These are sensitive times and we are not looking in terms of revenue generation for now. The focus is
on passenger safety and to ensure that the disease does not spread. Trains will run in due course, once
the government gives us the green signal. However, as of now, we have not taken any decision yet,” said
a senior officer.

In the zones, officials are also identifying trains and routes which can be resumed with the approval of
the board. The focus, say officials, is to see if routes catering to migrant workers can be resumed initially
and also those that are not travelling through or had halts at COVID-19 hotspots.

Officials added the Railways also have to factor in how the lockdown is eventually opened. If it is
selective, then trains will only run in areas where the lockdown has been lifted, officials said.

Railways is also unlikely to rescind a March 19 order suspending all concessions for passengers except
those offered to patients, students and people with disabilities.

Masks, keeping distance

The Railways is mulling options like thermal screening to screen passengers boarding trains.

“We are thinking of requesting passengers to wear masks as per the Health Ministry advisory. We are
also thinking of using the Arogya app to check wellness of patients and allow only healthy passengers,
an official said. The Railways has also asked zones to ensure the security of coaches parked in depots.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/railways-mulls-post-lockdown-
protocols/article31265687.ece

EPFO to accept Aadhaar date of birth as proof #GS2 #Governance

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will accept the date of birth recorded in Aadhaar as
a valid proof for those applying for changing the date, as long as the difference is less than three years,
on EPFO records, a statement from the Union Labour and Employment Ministry said on Sunday.

“In a move to extend the availability and reach of online services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,
EPFO has issued revised instructions to its field offices to facilitate PF members to rectify their date of
birth in EPFO records, thus ensuring that their UAN [universal account number] is KYC compliant,” the
note read.

The Ministry said PF subscribers who want to rectify their DOB in the EPFO records could do so online.
“This will enable EPFO to validate the date of birth of members online with UIDAI instantaneously, thus
authenticating and reducing the processing time of change requests,” the Ministry said.

Following Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement on March 26 that EPF members could
now withdraw non-refundable advance amounts, the Ministry had notified the amended scheme on
March 27.
On Sunday, the Ministry reiterated that EPFO had “instructed field offices to expedite disposal of online
requests for availing non refundable advance.”

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/epfo-to-accept-aadhaar-date-of-birth-as-
proof/article31265689.ece

Empowered group joins forces with private sector, UN & NGOs #GS2 #IR
The government on Sunday said it had set up an empowered group, chaired by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh
Kant, to undertake discussions with the private sector and international organisations on actions
planned and challenges faced in dealing with COVID-19.

The empowered group, constituted on March 29, has already had several rounds of meetings with U.N.
agencies, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the civil society organisations and development
partners, and industry associations, such as the CII, FICCI, Assocham and Nasscom, on “their
contribution to the response, their plans for the coming weeks and the issues they are facing, and their
expectations from the government”.

Since March 30, the panel has conducted six meetings.

Mr. Kant has also reached out to over 92,000 NGOs/civil society organisations, appealing to them to
assist the government in identifying hotspots, deputing volunteers and care givers to deliver services to
the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, transgender persons and other vulnerable groups and
create awareness about prevention and combating stigma. He has also requested them to provide
shelter to homeless, daily wage workers and urban poor families and set up community kitchens for
migrants.

“The committee has opened up cross-sectoral dialogue within the private sector and start-ups to
engender collaboration among them to produce health equipment and PPEs,” the release said.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/empowered-group-joins-forces-with-private-
sector-un-ngos/article31265697.ece

30 more days to pay life insurance premium #GS3 #Economy

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has allowed an additional 30-day
grace period for policyholders to pay premium on life insurance policies whose renewal due date falls in
April.

It had earlier provided a similar grace period for those policies whose premium was due for payment in
March.

An additional grace period is over and above the 30-day grace period, from the due date, that usually is
available to pay the premium without any interest charges and thus ensuring continuity of the policy
without any break.
The grace period varies depending on the frequency of premium payment — it is less, usually 15 days, if
the mode of payment is monthly and invariably 30 days for quarterly, half-yearly or yearly modes.

A circular issued by IRDAI Member (Life) K. Ganesh said the additional grace period for life insurance
policies, whose premiums is due in March and April, would be 30 days. The communication, however,
did not specify whether it will be applicable to all life insurance policies, irrespective of their frequency
of payment.

Settlement options

The decision follows representations from life insurers and the Life Insurance Council, in which they had
cited “various operational constraints and difficulties being faced by policyholders due to the lockdown,”
in view of the pandemic.

In another instruction to life insurers, IRDAI said they may offer settlement options for maturity payout
of unit-linked policies. Settlement option is a facility extended to ULIP holders to receive the maturity
proceeds in instalments.

Regulatory returns

“Where unit-linked policies mature and fund value is to be paid in lump sum, life insurers may offer
settlement options. This one-time option is regardless of whether such option exists or not in the
specific product,” the circular said.

In doing so, life insurers have to “exercise all due care and diligence to explain clearly the possible
downside risk of continued fluctuation of fund value based on daily NAV and clear consent has to be
obtained from the policyholder. This is allowed for unit-linked policies maturing up to May 31,” the
circular said.

IRDAI has given more time for insurers to file regulatory returns — 15 days for monthly returns; and 30
days for quarterly, half-yearly and yearly returns as well for Cybersecurity Audit. The additional time for
filing regulatory returns is as on March 31, another circular said.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/30-more-days-to-pay-life-insurance-
premium/article31265684.ece

The mystery of low German COVID-19 fatality rates #GS2 #IR #GS3 #SnT
They call them corona taxis: Medics outfitted in protective gear, driving around the empty streets of
Heidelberg, Germany, to check on patients who are at home, five or six days into being sick with the
SARS-CoV-2 virus. They take a blood test, looking for signs that a patient is about to go into a steep
decline. They might suggest hospitalisation even to a patient who has only mild symptoms; the
chances of surviving that decline are vastly improved by being in a hospital when it begins.
“There is this tipping point at the end of the first week,” said professor Hans-Georg Kräusslich, head of
virology at University Hospital in Heidelberg, one of the country’s leading research hospitals. “If you are
a person whose lungs might fail, that’s when you will start deteriorating.”

High engagement

Dr. Heidelberg’s corona taxis illustrate a level of engagement and a commitment of public resources that
help explain one of the most intriguing puzzles of the pandemic: Why is Germany’s death rate so low?

The virus and the resulting disease, COVID-19, have hit Germany with force: According to Johns Hopkins
University, the country had more than 92,000 infections as of midday Saturday, more than any other
country except the U.S., Italy and Spain. But with 1,295 deaths, Germany’s fatality rate stood at 1.4%
compared with 12% in Italy; around 10% in Spain, France and Britain; 4% in China; and 2.5% in the
United States. “There has been talk of a German anomaly. Dr. Streeck has been getting calls from
colleagues in the United States and elsewhere. “‘What are you doing differently?’ they ask me,” he said.
“‘Why is your death rate so low?’”

There are several answers to this question, experts say — a mix of statistical distortions and very real
differences in how the country has taken on the epidemic. The average age of those infected is lower in
Germany than in many other countries. Many of the early patients caught the virus in Austrian and
Italian ski resorts and were relatively young and healthy, Dr. Kräusslich said. The average age of
contracting the disease remains relatively low, at 49. In France, it is 62.5, and in Italy 62, according to
their latest national reports.

Another explanation is that Germany has been testing far more people than most nations. That means
it catches more people with few or no symptoms, increasing the number of known cases but not the
number of fatalities.

More ICU units

But there are also significant medical factors, epidemiologists and virologists say, chief among them
early and widespread testing and treatment, plenty of intensive care beds and a trusted government
whose social distancing guidelines are widely observed. In mid-January, long before most Germans had
given the virus much thought, Charité hospital in Berlin had already developed a test and posted the
formula online. By the time Germany recorded its first case of COVID-19 in February, laboratories had
built up a stock of test kits.

By now, Germany is conducting around 3,50,000 coronavirus tests a week, far more than any other
European country. Early and widespread testing has allowed authorities to slow the spread of the
pandemic by isolating known cases while they are infectious.

Further, all across Germany, hospitals have expanded their intensive care capacities. And they started
from a high level. In January, Germany had some 28,000 intensive care beds equipped with ventilators,
or 34 per 1,00,000 people. By comparison, that rate is 12 in Italy and 7 in the Netherlands. By now, there
are 40,000 intensive care beds available in Germany.
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/the-mystery-of-low-german-covid-19-
fatality-rates/article31265641.ece

India will need 27 mn masks, 15 mn PPEs in 2 months: Report #GS3 #SnT

The country will require about 27 million N95 masks, 15 million PPEs, 1.6 million diagnostic kits and
50,000 ventilators by June, The Indian Express reported citing official sources. This was conveyed to
industry representatives during a meeting on April 3 of the empowered group of officials on
“coordinating with private sector, NGOs and international organisations”, headed by the NITI Aayog CEO
Amitabh Kant.

“The demand of ventilators has been estimated to be 50,000 by June 2020. Out of these, 16,000 are
already available and orders has been placed for 34,000 ventilators. To facilitate procurement of
ventilators and other PPEs from abroad, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has been taken on board,”
the sources quoted an official as saying.

The estimates came in response to industry officials seeking “the projected demand and supply
environment of PPEs” for the next 6-12 months.

Six meetings were conducted by Empowered Group (EG 6), headed by Kant, between March 30 and
April 3 with industry associations and CSOs about their contribution to the response, plans for the
coming weeks, and the issues they are facing.

With the number of coronavirus positive cases spiking across the country, the healthcare sector is facing
acute shortage of masks and protective gear. A number of healthcare workers, including doctors and
nurses have started testing positive for coronavirus infection in India.

Consequently, the government is on a mission to ramp up supply. Simultaneously, the Centre has also
banned exports of ky medical items such as diagnostic kits.

India entered the 13th day of the 21-day lockdown on Monday. So far, the total number of confirmed
coronavirus positive cases stands at 4,067, among which 109 have succumbed to COVID-19.

https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2020/04/06/india-will-need-27-mn-masks-15-mn-ppes-in-2-
months-report.html

Indian migrants, across India #GS3 #SnT

The exodus of migrant workers from the cities following the announcement of the 21-day
lockdown threw the spotlight on the vast number of Indians who live outside their home states.

The total number of internal migrants in India, as per the 2011 census, is 45.36 crore or 37% of the
country’s population. This includes inter-state migrants as well as migrants within each state, while the
recent exodus is largely due to the movement of inter-state migrants.
The annual net flows amount to about 1 per cent of the working age population. As per Census 2011,
the size of the workforce was 48.2 crore people. This figure is estimated to have exceeded 50 crore in
2016 — the Economic Survey pegged the size of the migrant workforce at roughly 20 per cent or over 10
crore in 2016.

State to state, 2020

While there is no official data for the inter-state migrants in the country, estimates for 2020 have been
made by Professor Amitabh Kundu of Research and information System for Developing countries. His
estimates, which are based on the 2011 Census, NSSO surveys and economic survey, show that there
are a total of about 65 million inter-state migrants, and 33 per cent of these migrants are workers. By
conservative estimates, 30 per cent of them are casual workers and another 30 per cent work on regular
basis but in the informal sector.

If you add street vendors, another vulnerable community which is not captured by the worker data, that
would mean that there are 12 to 18 million people who are residing in states other than that of their
origin and have been placed at a risk of losing their income.

A study by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and Azim Premji University in 2019
estimates that 29% of the population in India’s big cities is of daily wagers. This is the number of people
which would be logically wanting to move back to their states.

Professor Kundu’s estimates show that Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for the origin of 25 per cent and
14 per cent of the total inter-state migrants, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, at 6 per cent
and 5 per cent.

This means that around 4-6 million people would be wanting to return to Uttar Pradesh, and 1.8-2.8
million to Bihar. Another 700,000 to 1 million would be wanting to return to Rajasthan and 600,000-
900,000 to Madhya Pradesh.

What they earn, experience

As per the ‘Politics and Society Between Elections Survey’ from 2017-19 conducted by the CSDS, the
monthly household income of 22% daily and weekly wagers is up to Rs 2,000; of 32%, between Rs 2,000
and 5,000; of 25%, between 5,000 and 10,000; of 13%, between Rs 10,000 and 20,000; and of 8%, more
than Rs 20,000.

A CSDS survey during the recent Delhi Assembly elections also found that 20% of respondents reported
their monthly household income to be less than Rs 10,000. Among migrants from Bihar and UP, this was
even higher at 33% and 27%, respectively.
Professor Tariq Thachil of Vanderbilt University has worked on the circular migrant population in India.
His research found that migrant populations neither wholly retain nor completely discard their village-
based ethnic ties, which is witnessed by their willingness to walk hundreds of kilometres once their
source of livelihood is taken away.

His research, based on a large survey of 2,400 seasonal migrants sampled from 51 marketplaces across
Lucknow, underscored the pre-eminence of the police in shaping the urban experiences of migrants,
relative to their rural lives. Remarkably, 33% of respondents in the survey personally experienced violent
police action within their past year in the city, while fewer than 5% had ever done so in their home
villages.

Mostly in cities
That the inter-state migrant crisis after the lockdown was felt more by cities like Delhi, Mumbai and
Surat is borne by the 2011 Census data. Professor Chinmay Tumbe of IIM Ahmedabad has
highlighted that Delhi has a migration rate of 43%, of whom 88% are from other states and 63% are
from rural areas.

Mumbai has a migration rate of 55%, with 46% migrants from other states and 52% from rural areas.
Surat, which witnessed police action on a group of migrants on Sunday, has a migration rate of 65%,
with 50% migrants from other states and 76% from rural areas.

Professor Tumbe has also noted that the information about districts in originating states, from where
these workers come and would have returned, is not current and is based on estimates from the 1990s.
His paper, ‘Urbanisation, Demographic Transition and the Growth of Cities in India, 1870-2020’ has the
data for source regions of migrants in major cities in 1990s, as the 2011 census data on it has not been
released so far.

This data is important to identify the districts which should be on high alert for potential virus spread as
these workers return to their homes. For example, Ganjam in coastal Odisha has a lot of people working
in Gujarat and Professor Tumbe has noted that there have been instances recorded in the past which
includes AIDS transmission via Surat.

As Professor Siddharth Chandra’s work shows, the 1918 influenza virus was carried to rural India in
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by soldiers who fought in Europe in the First World War. They returned by ships
to Bombay and Madras and then carried the virus to their villages, causing a disaster which saw 18
million deaths in India.

District to district

District-wise migration data in the Economic Survey for 2016-17 show that the highest influx of migrants
within the country is seen in city-districts such as Gurugram, Delhi and Mumbai along with Gautam
Buddh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh); Indore, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh); Bangalore (Karnataka); Thiruvallur,
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Erode, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).

The districts showing the highest outward movement of migrant workers include Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor,
Moradabad, Rampur, Kaushambi, Faizabad and 33 other districts in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkashi, Chamoli,
Rudra Prayag, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat in
Uttarakhand; Churu, Jhunjhunu, Pali in Rajasthan; Darbhanga, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sheikhpura,
Bhojpur, Buxar, Jehanabad in Bihar; Dhanbad, Lohardaga, Gumla in Jharkhand; and Ratnagiri,
Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.

As per the Report of the Working Group on Migration, 2017 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Poverty Alleviation, 17 districts account for the top 25% of India’s total male out-migration. Then of
these districts are in UP, six in Bihar and one in Odisha (see map above).
“Relatively less developed states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have high net out-migration. Relatively
more developed states take positive CMM values reflecting net immigration: Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

The largest recipient was the Delhi region, which accounted for more than half of migration in 2015-16,
while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar taken together account for half of total out-migrants. Maharashtra, Goa
and Tamil Nadu had major net in-migration, while Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh had major net out-
migration,” the Economic Survey had stated.

The Report of the Working Group on Migration shows that the share of migrant workers is the highest in
construction sector for females (67 per cent in urban areas, 73 per cent in rural areas), while highest
number of male migrant workers are employed in public services (transport, postal, public
administration services) and modern services (financial intermediation, real estate, renting, education,
health) at 16 per cent each and 40 per cent each in rural and urban areas, respectively.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-india-lockdown-migran-workers-mass-exodus-
6348834/

Can a mother transmit the COVID-19 virus to foetus or newborn? #GS3 #SnT
Last week, a three-day-old baby and his mother tested positive for COVID-19 in a private lab in Mumbai,
but subsequently tested negative in Kasturba Hospital. It is still unclear whether a pregnant woman runs
the risk of transmitting the virus to her baby during pregnancy.

While there is no concrete evidence for vertical transmission of SARS-CoV2 from mother to foetus, it is
known that pregnancy involves a risk, after birth, of adverse outcomes from many respiratory viral
infections. A virus may be transmitted after delivery either from mother during breastfeeding or from
the hospital environment, various experts have said.

The World Health Organization notes that there is no evidence yet to show that pregnant women are
more vulnerable or are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than the general population. It
has, however, advised pregnant women to wash their hands frequently, to avoid crowded spaces and to
practice respiratory hygiene

Experts at the College of American Pathologists flagged this concern in the Archives of Pathology and
Laboratory Medicine. They cite the recent history of vertical maternal-foetal transmission of such
emerging viral infections as the Zika virus, Ebola virus, Marburg virus and other agents. A March 24
article in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal too flagged such concerns while noting that the
potential risk of vertical transmission is unclear.

In India, efforts have been made to create a pregnancy registry at the Indian Council of Medical
Research. “Maternal management and foetal safety are a significant concern, but the infection is at a
low level and there is not sufficient number of patients for our studies to assess the vulnerability of
pregnant women and whether there was vertical transmission of COVID-19 virus to their babies,” Dr R R
Gangakhedkar, Head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases Division at Indian Council of
Medical Research, told The Indian Express.

At the ICMR’s pregnancy registry, obstetricians have been asked to provide information about any
adverse outcomes. “`We have no evidence so far,” he said. One pregnant woman who had delivered at
AIIMS recently had been detected with COVID 19. The stress is therefore on respiratory and personal
hygiene, including handwashing, and social distancing. While feeding the baby the distance between the
infant and the mother is too small, “hence here we can suggest that she can express her milk”, Dr
Ganghakhedkar said.

So far no reliable evidence recommends any specific COVID-19 treatment for pregnant women. Before
allowing drugs for pregnant women, clinical trials would be needed to prove the effectiveness of drugs
and the effects on the foetus to establish a standardised treatment.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/can-a-mother-transmit-the-covid-19-virus-to-foetus-or-
newborn-6348840/

Is burial or cremation safe? How to handle bodies of COVID-19 patients #GS3

#SnT

Last week, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Mumbai issued a circular that bodies of
all COVID-19 patients would be cremated at the nearest crematorium, without any rituals. The circular
was later amended, allowing burials only if grounds were large enough.

Why was the order introduced?

The Municipal Commissioner in Mumbai is an empowered officer under the Epidemic Act, 1897, to issue
orders to contain the COVID-19 epidemic. The commissioner said the circular was issued after a
“community leader brought to my notice that existing burial grounds are in highly dense locality with
high chances of contamination in dense community/ residential areas nearby”. This was before the
amendment allowing burials in larger grounds.

A general surgeon, aged 85, died in Hinduja Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. After his body
was discharged by the hospital on March 27, the family buried it without civic staff. This reportedly
raised concerns in the BMC over whether precautions had been taken.

What has been recommended now?

The BMC has recommended the use of an electric or piped natural gas crematorium. The circular said
packing the body in a plastic and burying still holds risk of contamination as decomposition is delayed in
plastic. It said not more than five people will be allowed to attend the funeral.

But what about those who traditionally bury their dead?

The circular makes an exception. Those who insist on burial, it says, will be allowed only if the burial
grounds are large enough and pose no risk of contamination in nearby areas. The circular does not,
however, specify the size of the cemetery where burial will be allowed. The day the circular was issued,
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope told The Indian Express that the central government’s
guidelines for handling dead bodies must be followed in the state.

And what do the central guidelines say?

The Health Ministry’s detailed guidelines are for handling of bodies of COVID-19 patients. These allow
both cremation and burial, and make no mention of any risk of contamination from bodies if buried.

The body must be sealed in a leak-proof plastic bag. The guidelines allow only the face to be viewed by
unzipping the bag, and do not permit bathing, kissing or hugging of the body. Family members are
allowed to read religious lines and sprinkle holy water, as long as no one touches the body.

Embalming and autopsy must be avoided as the lungs of an COVID-19 patient can be infectious during
an autopsy. If tubes or a catheter is removed, the wounds must be disinfected with one per cent
hypochlorite solution and dressed in impermeable (leak-proof) material to ensure body fluids don’t ooze
out. The nose and mouth must be plugged to prevent body fluids from oozing out.

After the body is put in it, the bag must again be disinfected with hypochlorite. The bag can be covered
in a cloth provided by the family. The disinfected bag does not pose a risk during transportation or
handling. But those handling it should wear personal protective equipment.

Does burial pose a risk of infection?

Bodies of people infected with microbes such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2 come under Biosafety Levels II and
III. Burial is considered safe as the body is sealed. “The body takes 7-10 days to decompose, and the
body fluids can take 3-4 days to dry up.

Theoretically speaking, the virus lives until there are body fluids. But this infection spreads by droplets.
There has been no case recorded where body fluids leaked from a body contaminated groundwater and
spread infection,” said Dr Satish Pawar, joint director, Directorate of Health Services, Maharashtra.

If the body is cremated, the ash does not pose any risk either. Infection is a risk only for mortuary
workers, doctors who do the autopsy and those who handle the body. If all precautions are followed,
then both burial and cremation are considered safe. Large gatherings are to be avoided because family
members are possible contacts.

How soon must burial or cremation take place?

Dr Harish Pathak, head of the forensics department in Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, said a body must be
disposed quickly. If it has to be kept in a mortuary, it should be preserved between 4-6 degrees.°C For
disposing of infectious animal carcasses, the World Health Organization mandates a proper incinerator,
its primary chamber at 800°C and secondary chamber at 1000°C; for biomedical waste, an auto-clave
machine is used.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-is-burial-or-cremation-safe-how-to-handle-
bodies-of-covid-19-patients-6348832/