Coronavirus: Four lakh ex-gratia announced for deceased’s family
By Newsmeter Network Published on 14 March 2020 12:30 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Keeping in mind the spread of Coronavirus in India the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to provide Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to families of deceased persons, including to those involved in relief operations from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The ministry has also decided to bear the cost of hospitalization cost of Covid-19 positive persons at rates fixed by the state governments.
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states by Disaster Management Division of Home Affairs Ministry, the states are offered assistance from State Disaster Response Fund to take quick measures in quarantine, sample collection and screening. This includes provision for temporary accommodation, food, clothing and medical care for people affected and sheltered in quarantine camps outside their houses.
The National Health Mission may also provide medical care.
To strengthen the surveillance and control measures against Covid-19 virus outbreak, the Centre has also decided to support the cost of setting up additional testing laboratories for the virus. This also includes the cost of personal protection equipment for municipal, healthcare, police and fire authorities.
Expenditure for setting up thermal scanners, ventilators and air purifiers will also be provided by the Centre at a rate as assessed by the State Executive Committee.
The World Health Organization, earlier on March 13, had declared the virus to be a “pandemic” causing more than 5,000 deaths worldwide. They had announced that Europe has now become the “epicentre” for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, when Telangana’s first coronavirus patient was discharged from Gandhi hospital yesterday, three new cases have been reported in the state. While the test result of Italy returned 24-year-old Telangana woman has been confirmed positive of Novel Covid19, results for the other two are awaited.
The 24-year-old software employee, who was the first reported corona-positive case in the state, has been shifted to home isolation after his subsequent test results for COVID-19 came negative.
