Coronavirus: Centre directs states to release funds for additional medical facilities

In a bid to expand medical facilities in India, Centre on Tuesday has asked all state governments to deploy funds to establish additional medical facilities to boost medical infrastructure of country, according to a press release. It added that additional facilities including hospitals, clinical labs, isolation wards should be set up by se funds. Apart from this Centre also directed states to upgrade and expand existing facilities and ensure all facilities are sufficiently equipped with ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and drugs to treat patients.

Tihar jail to release 3000 inmates to avoid overcrowding as Coronavirus cases cross 400

Centre issues directive to states

MASSIVE: Modi govt tells states to transfer funds in construction workers' accounts by DBT

Earlier in day, union government provided relief to India's informal sector amid Coronavirus lockdown. Santosh Kumar Gangwar, MoS Ministry of Labour and Employment, has issued an advisory to all states & UTs to transfer funds in account of construction workers through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode from cess fund collected by Labour Welfare Boards. Prior to Centre's anuncement, several states have already anunced monetary relief to daily w workers.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: PM to address nation at 8 PM; COVID-19 confirmations cross 500

Coronavirus crisis in India

As of date, 492 positive cases have been reported of pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reporting highest at 106. Nine deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several or countries and shut down over 32 states and Union territories.

India has also closed India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.   government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large garings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Visit official government here: MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE