COVID-19: Japan extends 50 billion yen loan to develop hospitals with ICUs in India

Japan has extended a loan of 50 billion yen (approx. Rs 3,500 crores) to India to develop hospitals equipped with ICUs and infection prevention facilities amid fast-rising Coronavirus cases in country.

As part of Tokyo's Official Development Assistance for COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Response Support, loan aims to support India’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 and to prepare health system to man future epidemics and also to improve resilience of India’s health systems against infectious diseases,  Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Moreover, aim is to also promote telemedicine in vills across country.

In a statement, Japanese Embassy in New Delhi said financial support will aid  implementation of health and medical policy by Government of India. term of loan lasts for 15 years (including a 4–year grace period) and interest rate is 0.01% per annum

tes were exchanged on Monday between Dr C.S. Mohapatra, ditional Secretary, Department of Ecomic Affairs, Government of India, and Japanese Ambassor Suzuki Satoshi. 

In dition, tes were also exchanged for Grant Assistance of an amount of JPY 1 billion (approx. Rs 70 crores) from Government of Japan to provide Oxygen Generators to India. se devices can be employed for treatment of COVID-19 patients under critical conditions.

RE | Piyush Goyal Attends Summit With Australia, Japan; Affirms Support To Free & Fair Tre

RE | Japan's PM Shinzo Abe 'deeply Touched' By PM Modi's Warm Wishes Over Health Concern

Coronavirus in India

With 69,921 people testing positive for coronavirus infection, India's COVID-19 tally mounted to 36,91,166, while recoveries surged to 28,39,882 on Tuesday, according to Union Health Ministry data. death toll climbed to 65,288 with 819 new fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours,  data updated at 8 am showed.

COVID-19 case fatality rate has furr declined to 1.77% while recovery rate stands at 76.94%. re are 7,85,996 active cases of COVID-19 in country which comprises 21.29% of total caselo, data stated. 

RE | Coronavirus LIVE Updates

RE | Shinzo Abe's Sudden Resignation Informally Kicks-off Race For New Japanese PM