COVID-19: India reported second death. Centre decided to bring Masks, hand sanitisers under Essential Commodities (EC) Act to ensure their sale at MRP.
New Delhi, March 13, 2020 (IANS) India reported its second death due to coronavirus on Friday as a 68-year-old woman from west Delhi who had tested positive for COVID-19 died at a hospital here, the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.
According to the ministry, the deceased woman had a history of contact with a positive case. Her son who had traveled to Switzerland and Italy between February 5 to February 22 and had returned to India on February 23 and was asymptomatic after he returned to the country.
Second death due to coronavirus
The Health Ministry said “her son developed fever and cough after one day of his return and reported to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on March 7, 2020. As per protocol, the family was screened and since he and his mother had fever and cough, both were admitted in the hospital.”
According to the ministry the woman was a known case of diabetes and hypertension. Her sample was collected on March 8. “Her condition worsened on March 9, with the development of pneumonia and she was shifted to intensive care unit. Her sample also tested positive for COVID-19. Since March 9 she was having respiratory fluctuations and was provided ventilator support. However, she died on March 13 at RML Hospital, Delhi as confirmed by the treating physician and Medical Superintendent.”
The ministry stressed that all precautionary measures as per protocol including screening, quarantine of the contacts are already taken up by the Ministry of Health, Government of Delhi and the status is being monitored.
The first COVID-19 death in India was confirmed from Karnataka on Thursday night.
Centre declares masks, sanitisers as essential goods
In a bid to ensure the availability of masks and hand sanitisers in the market and their sale at MRP in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Central government has decided to bring both the commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement on Friday that in view of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak the government has notified an order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare these two items as essential commodities up to June 30, 2020 by amending the schedule of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The ministry has also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act. Under the Essential Commodities Act, after discussions with the manufacturers, the states can ask them to enhance their production capacity to make the supply chain smooth, while under the Legal Metrology Act, the states can ensure the sale of both the items at MRP.
The states may now notify the Central order in their official gazette and also issue their own orders under the Essential Commodities Act to that effect and take necessary actions as per the situation prevailing in the respective states, the ministry said.
