‘Pvt Covid care? Let states fix rates’

The central government Wednesday submitted before the Supreme Court that the issue of fixing the cost of treatment of COVID-19 positive patients in private hospitals is best left to the state governments. Submitting that treatment costs vary from place to place, the Centre said states could fix lower rates at hospitals in smaller towns, and allow somewhat higher price caps in bigger cities.

Chief Justice SA Bobde said the Centre should consider asking insurance companies to release dues to such patients promptly. The court was hearing a petition by a lawyer, who sought subsidised or free treatment for COVID-19 patients in private hospitals, especially by those built on government land that was provided at a subsidised rate.

Meanwhile, India recorded the highest 857 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours as also the highest recovery of 51,706. The number of cases was racing towards 20 lakh. The recovery rate has improved further to 67.19%, while the mortality rate also dipped to 2.09%.

‘Continue breastfeeding’ The Women and Child Development Ministry has instructed all field functionaries and healthcare providers to reassure mothers to initiate and continue to breastfeed their infants as per guidelines even if they have tested positive for COVID-19. MP CM goes home

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was discharged from the Chirayu Hospital in Bhopal on Wednesday after recovering from COVID-19.

T’gana tally 70K+ Telangana's COVID-19 tally breached the 70,000 mark on Wednesday, with 2,012 more people testing positive.