-The Indian Express Coronavirus lockdown: While the death toll has risen to 339, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country neared 10,400. As many as 1,035 persons have recovered from the virus. At least 602 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals having 1,06,719 isolation beds and 12,024 ICU beds have been readied in country, said Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal Tuesday in a routine media briefing on the coronavirus situation in the...

-The Indian Express A large number of migrants in the Persian Gulf come from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The loss of income will not just affect the workers but will also echo across continents in their home countries, which receive billions of dollars in remittances every year. New Delhi: As multiple countries across the globe try to grapple with the lockdown imposed due to coronavirus pandemic, migrants in the...

-The Hindu Until trial results are out, countries like India must focus on interventions such as largescale testing, isolation, contact-tracing, and physical distancing, says Madhukar Pai, Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology & Global Health Madhukar Pai, is Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology & Global Health and Director, McGill Global Health Programs and Professor at McGill University. In an email interview to The Hindu, he explains the debate on BCG vaccine’s purported effectiveness...

-The Indian Express Efficacy of universal lockdown isn’t completely endorsed, nor is there indisputable evidence to suggest it is optimal response. As the country approaches the end of its nationwide lockdown on April 14, one question dominates national discourse: Should India extend the lockdown? Never before has India confronted a public policy dilemma that impacts the lives and fates of millions so critically. A number of states have already announced extension of the...

-The Indian Express Scientific estimates suggest that without social distancing measures, the reproductive rate would have been 2.5 people per day, but with the lockdown, we have been able to reduce social exposure by over 75%, leading to an infection rate of around 0.625 persons per day.” New Delhi: Exposing lack of coordination within the government, the Health Ministry has rejected a statement made by the Ministry of External Affairs, which had...