<span style="color: #222222;">Group of Ministers (GoM) reviewed the current status and actions for management of COVID-19 at a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. A detailed presentation on the status of COVID-19 in the country along with the response and its management were made. The GoM had a detailed deliberation on the measures taken by the Centre and various States and Union Territories  for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The GoM was informed that all districts have been asked to follow and further strengthen their contingency plans to combat COVID-19. It was briefed on the state-wise details of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals along with the adequacy of isolation beds, PPEs, N-95 masks, drugs, ventilators and oxygen cylinders. The GoM was informed that domestic manufactures, which have been identified earlier, have already started the production of PPEs and masks and at present the stock is available. It was informed that more than one lakh PPEs and N-95 masks are being manufactured everyday in the country.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> There are at present 104 domestic manufacturers of PPEs and three making N-95 masks in the country. In addition, production of ventilators by has also started and orders have been placed for more than 59 thousand units through nine manufacturers. The GoM also reviewed the testing strategy and availability of testing kits across the country along with the strategy for hotspots and cluster management.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The GoM also deliberated on various tasks assigned to various empowered committees and presentations were made. It was apprised that around 92 thousand NGOs, Self-Help Groups and civil society organizations are working and contributing by providing food to the migrant workers across various states. These NGOs are supported by the states by allotting fund from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and by Food Corporation of India which is providing the foodgrains at subsidized cost.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The GoM was also informed that a national level meta-data of health workers, doctors, NCC and others, has been prepared and shared to all the states, districts and other officials to mobilize the resources and COVID Warriors to much needed locations. There is presently data of  more than 1.24 crore human resources on the dashboard. These COVID Warriors are being trained through online platforms and so far more than 10 lakh personnel have been trained.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The GoM was also apprised that as of now the death rate is around 3.1 per cent while recovery rate is more than 20 per cent, which is comparatively better than most of the countries and may be taken as a positive effect of the Lockdown in the country along with the cluster management and containment strategy. It was said that the average doubling rate of the country is 9.1 days, as of now. During the meeting, the Chairman of the GoM and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan commended the dedication and hard work of all the stakeholders at all levels.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He informed that in view of the urgent need for addressing the issues of stigma and discrimination of patients and also the health care workers combating with COVID-19, the Ordinance for amendment of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 has been recently promulgated with very stringent provisions. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also attended the meeting.</span>