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The <keyword id="19949639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rupee" source="keywords">rupee</keyword> traded on a flat note at 83.43 against the <keyword id="19949640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-dollar" source="keywords">US dollar</keyword> in early trade on Thursday amid a strong greenback after the American central bank decided to keep <keyword id="20071327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate" source="keywords">interest rate</keyword> unchanged. Forex traders said that an upward movement in the <keyword id="20024983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crude-oil-prices" source="keywords">crude oil prices</keyword> also pressured the Indian currency. However, it found support from positive domestic <keyword id="19911354" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-market" source="keywords">equity market</keyword> sentiment and inflow of foreign capital. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened strong at 83.41 but later slipped to its previous closing level of 83.43 against the dollar. The rupee had settled 2 paise higher at 83.43 against the dollar on Tuesday, a day after losing 7 paise on Monday. Foreign exchange market was closed on Wednesday on account of Maharashtra Day. On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve decided to maintain the status quo on the benchmark interest rates, which was in line with the market expectations. Analysts said that market participants will keep a close watch on the US non-farm payroll data to be released on Friday. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.02 per cent to 105.64. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.56 per cent to USD 83.91 per barrel. In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 152.67 points or 0.20 per cent higher at 74,635.45. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 25.75 points or 0.11 per cent to 22,630.60. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital markets on Tuesday, as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,071.93 crore on a net basis, according to exchange data. India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections grew 12.4 per cent to a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April, aided by strong economic momentum and increased domestic transactions and imports, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/india-t20-world-cup-squad-kulcha-back-on-menu-kl-rahul-dropped/slidelist/109730805.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/india-t20-world-cup-squad-kulcha-back-on-menu-kl-rahul-dropped/slidelist/109730805.cms" target="_blank">India T20 World Cup squad: KulCha back on menu, KL Rahul dropped</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-and-two-wheelers-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109723620.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-and-two-wheelers-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109723620.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming cars and two-wheelers launching in India in May 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mahindra-xuv-3xo-compact-suv-launched-in-india-starting-at-7-49-lakh/slidelist/109715525.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mahindra-xuv-3xo-compact-suv-launched-in-india-starting-at-7-49-lakh/slidelist/109715525.cms" target="_blank">Mahindra XUV 3XO compact SUV launched in India starting at ₹7.49 lakh</a>

Rupee turns flat at 83.43 against US dollar in early trade

<ul><li>The worst-hit Indian state, Maharashtra, may be on the verge of having the second wave of COVID-19 under control. </li><li>Data shows that the number of active cases has plateaued over the last two weeks and has been on the downturn for the last two days. </li><li>Dr Marcus Ranney opines that this is an encouraging indicator, but is in no way a signal to think that Maharasthra is out of the woods just yet. </li></ul> Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in India with over 4.23 million cases in total and over 63,000 deaths, so far. In March, the state accounted for 60% of the overall cases in the country. After lockdown-like restrictions were enforced across the state on April 4, the number of active cases in the state seems to have plateaued. “There has definitely been a mentality shift in the last 24 hours as compared to 72 hours ago when everyone was panicking. As a fraternity, we seem to feel that we’re slowly getting on top of this,” Dr Marcus Ranney, founder and chief executive of Human Edge, told Business Insider. According to him, there’s been an uptake in the number of oxygen liquidation tanks coming in and more home concentrator devices being delivered through citizen-led efforts. Even Remdesivir is more in stock than before — but it’s way too early to celebrate. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/5966600"></div>]]></cdata></div> The state’s daily increase of new cases of COVID-19 has remained in the 60,000s for the last two weeks. This is the longest period of stability since the second wave of infections took hold in February 2021. But it’s only been negative for two days, as of April 26. <div type="ExtQuote" text="“It’s way too early to celebrate, absolutely way too early.”" auname="Dr Marcus Ranney, health expert, founder and CEO of Human Edge"></div> And the positivity rate — the number of people testing positive as a proportion of the total number of COVID-19 tests being conducted — has also only been decreasing for two days. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/5967402"></div>]]></cdata></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What will indicate Maharashtra’s exit from the second wave of COVID-19?" comment="subhead" text="What will indicate Maharashtra’s exit from the second wave of COVID-19?">What will indicate Maharashtra’s exit from the second wave of COVID-19?</cmsannotation> “A useful metric would be the time needed to get a patient a bed when required. That creates a lot of anxiety in the system,” said Ranney. According to him, if a patient doesn’t need a bed immediately, a doctor normally recommends trying to treat symptoms at home. But that also means that a bed should be available if the need arises. Due to the shortage of beds, some doctors and patients may preemptively put in a request for a bed and clog the system even more, on the possibility that their loved one ‘may’ need to be admitted into the hospital. According to a team of researchers from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai (IMSC), there may be one other factor to watch as well — the transmission rate. Their data shows that Maharashtra has seen its transmission rate fall from 1.38 in mid-February to around 1.13 as of April 25, IMSC’s Sitabhra Sinha told <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/a-ray-in-covid-dark-dip-in-mumbai-curve-shows-plateau-in-maharashtra-cases-7287807/">Indian Express</a>. A transmission rate of 1.13 means that for every 100 COVID-19 patients, the disease is being transmitted to another 113 people. The lower the value of transmission, the slower the disease is spreading through the population. Mumbai, in particular, has shown marked improvement with its daily case count steadily declining over the last two weeks. On April 24, the financial capital of India reported 5,867 new infections — the lowest it has been this month. Pune, which has the second-highest number of cases in all of India, reported more than 10,000 new cases on April 24. But that’s lower than its record-high of 12,825 cases on April 17. The central government, on Saturday, approved a supply of 4,35,000 vials of Remdesivir to Maharashtra till April 30, according to ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sundar-pichai-and-satya-nadella-will-use-google-and-microsoft-resources-and-technology-to-support-india-during-the-covid19-crisis/articleshow/82253126.cms">From Sundar Pichai to Satya Nadella – Indian-Americans wake up to the COVID-19 crisis at home</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/maharashtra-kerala-and-chhattisgarh-states-are-on-top-covid-19-positivity-rate-in-india/articleshow/82254421.cms">COVID-19: These are the five states in India with the highest positivity rates</a>

The pace of infections and test positivity in Maharashtra is slowing down — but it is too soon to celebrate

With 16,866 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,39,05,621, while the daily positivity rate crossed 7 per cent again after a gap of 168 days, according to the <keyword id="83655" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-health-ministry" source="Orion">Union Health Ministry</keyword> data updated on Monday. The active cases have declined to 1,50,877, while the death toll has climbed to 5,26,074 with 41 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprises 0.34 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.46 per cent, the <keyword id="46535" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="health-ministry" source="Orion">health ministry</keyword> said. A decrease of 1,323 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.03 per cent. The weekly positivity rate was 4.49 per cent, according to the health ministry. Totally, 87.27 crore tests have been carried out with 2,39,751 tests being conducted in a span of 24 hours. The number of recoveries surged to 4,32,28,670, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent. According to the ministry, 202.17 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year. The 41 new fatalities include 13 from <keyword id="28504" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kerala" source="Orion">Kerala</keyword>, six each from Maharashtra and West Bengal, four from Punjab, two each from <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> and Sikkim and one each from Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Nagaland, <keyword id="6357961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="odisha" source="Orion">Odisha</keyword>, Tripura and <keyword id="6357713" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="Orion">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/list-of-top-new-upcoming-whatsapp-features-in-second-half-2022/articleshow/93103440.cms">From avatars to hiding online status—list of top new upcoming WhatsApp features</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sensex-falls-500-points-nifty-50-down-150-on-ril-and-weak-global-cues/articleshow/93103359.cms">Sensex falls 500 points, Nifty 50 down 150 on RIL and weak global cues</a>

India's positivity rate crosses 7% again after an almost 3-month gap

<ul><li>In 17 states, the test positivity rate is above the 5% level recommended by the World Health Organisation for easing restrictions.</li><li>Overall, India has a test positivity rate of 6.2% - 11 states are above this national average.</li><li>India has reported the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases in the world over the last five days.</li></ul>India’s daily test positivity rate has increased in the second wave of COVID-19, leading to a huge increase in the number of cases reported every day. India has reported the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases in the world consistently over the last five days, recording a higher number each day. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is COVID-19 test positivity rate?" comment="subhead" text="What is COVID-19 test positivity rate?">What is COVID-19 test positivity rate?</cmsannotation> Test positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for COVID-19 compared to the total number of people who have been tested. A higher positivity rate is worrying as it suggests a higher prevalence of the disease. These are the five states with the highest test positivity rate in India: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">State </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Positive cases </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Total tests </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Positivity rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maharashtra </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">42,95,027 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2,57,49,543 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">17% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Goa </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">77,477 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6,19,811 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">13% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chhattisgarh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6,52,362 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">69,18,250 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kerala </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">14,05,656 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,51,16,722 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nagaland </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">13,183 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,43,918 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr></tbody></table> Source: Covid19India.org Note that these are cumulative numbers. With a minimum limit of 1 lakh positive cases, these are the five states with the highest test positivity rate, for a more representative sample: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">State </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Positive cases </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Total tests </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Positivity rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maharashtra </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">42,95,027 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2,57,49,543 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">17% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chhattisgarh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6,52,362 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">69,18,250 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kerala </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">14,05,656 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,51,16,722 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">West Bengal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7,43,950 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,01,66,796 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Madhya Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4,99,304 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">74,56,701 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td></tr></tbody></table> Source: Covid19India.org States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal are infamous for the mass public gatherings in recent days and yet official data seems to suggest that they are better off than states that have enforced stricter curfews and more stringent lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. For instance, the test positivity rate in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is a meagre 2.7% and 1.6% respectively, while the national average is 6.2%. Recovery rate for UP and Bihar is 71.6% and 77.9%, respectively, which is a lot lower than the national average of 82.6%. One possibility is that the testing rate in other states are better but there is a widespread belief that official data from states like UP, Bihar and West Bengal may be underreporting cases <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/as-covid-19-devastates-india-deaths-go-undercounted/articleshow/82234586.cms">as well as deaths</a>. These states are also <a href="http://social.niti.gov.in/uploads/sample/health_index_report.pdf">infamous</a> for poor healthcare infrastructure and limited access to even primary healthcare in many of their districts. The World Health Organisation states that the positivity rate should remain below 5% before restrictions can be eased. As of April 25, 17 states have positivity rate above 5% - the overall national average is also above this limit, at 6.2%. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/the-us-will-help-india-produce-more-coronavirus-vaccines-releasing-raw-materials-and-expanding-factories-in-broad-push-to-blunt-its-covid-19-crisis/articleshow/82246335.cms">The US will help India produce more coronavirus vaccines, releasing raw materials and expanding factories in broad push to blunt its COVID-19 crisis</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sundar-pichai-and-satya-nadella-will-use-google-and-microsoft-resources-and-technology-to-support-india-during-the-covid19-crisis/articleshow/82253126.cms">From Sundar Pichai to Satya Nadella – Indian-Americans wake up to the COVID-19 crisis at home</a>

COVID-19: These are the five states in India with the highest positivity rates

More than 20.61 lakh tests for detection of COVID-19 were conducted in a span of 24 hours in the country, the highest-ever tests done in a <keyword id="1275470" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="single-day">single day</keyword>, while the daily positivity rate has declined to 12.59 per cent, the <keyword id="83655" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-health-ministry">Union health ministry</keyword> said on Friday. <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s COVID-19 daily recoveries continued to outnumber the daily new cases for the eighth consecutive day, with 3,57,295 patients recuperating in a span of 24 hours. The cumulative recoveries have reached 2,27,12,735 in the country, it said. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 32,44,17,870 samples have been tested for the novel coronavirus infection till May 20 with 20,61,683 samples being tested on Thursday. Further, India has recorded less than 3 lakh new cases for five consecutive days now. Ten states--Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, <keyword id="37102" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Assam--reported 76.66 per cent of the 2,59,551 new cases registered in a day, the ministry said. <keyword id="20154" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> has reported the highest daily new cases at 35,579 followed by Kerala with 30,491 cases. On the other hand, India's COVID-19 active caseload decreased to 30,27,925, with a net decline of 1,01,953 cases being recorded in the total active caseload. The ministry said eight states namely Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, cumulatively account for 69.47 per cent of the country's total active cases. Besides, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19 crore. A total of 19,18,79,503 vaccine doses have been administered through 27,53,883 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Friday. These include 97,24,339 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 66,80,968 HCWs who have taken the second dose; 1,47,91,600 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose, 82,85,253 FLWs the second dose and 86,04,498 beneficiaries in the 18-44 years age group who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Besides, 5,98,35,256 and 95,80,860 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years have been administered the first and second doses, respectively, while 5,62,45,627 and 1,81,31,102 beneficiaries aged above 60 years have taken the first and second doses, respectively, the ministry added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/the-number-of-working-women-in-india-has-been-steadily-declining-heres-why/articleshow/82823052.cms">The number of working women in India has been steadily declining, here’s why</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/esper-an-android-based-development-platform-raises-30-million-as-pandemic-accelerates-adoption-of-intelligent-devices/articleshow/82822560.cms">Esper, an Android-based development platform, raises $30 million as pandemic accelerates adoption of intelligent devices</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/clubhouse-for-android-is-now-available-in-india-but-it-may-be-too-little-too-late/articleshow/82821238.cms">Clubhouse for Android is now available in India, but it may be too little too late</a>

Around 20.61 lakh COVID-19 test conducted in a single day, positivity rate dips to 12.59%, says Union health ministry

<ul><li><keyword id="6359783" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="bajaj-auto">Bajaj Auto</keyword> issued a clarification after news reports surfaced that its manufacturing facility in Aurangabad has been shut down.</li><li>The company said that “our manufacturing facility at Waluj [Aurangabad] is functioning normally.”</li><li>However, the company did accept that it had one Covid-19 positive worker on June 6. For which, it took all necessary measures for testing, contact tracing, self-isolation and complete sanitation as per protocol. </li></ul>India’s largest two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto issued a clarification after <a href="https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/as-79-employees-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-bajaj-autos-aurangabad-plant-video-of-rajiv-bajaj-mocking-lockdown-emerges">news reports</a> surfaced that its manufacturing facility in Aurangabad has been shut down after 79 employees tested positive for <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. However, the company said that its “manufacturing facility at Waluj is functioning normally”. “Post the country wide lockdown, our Waluj facility has been ramping operations from April 24, 2020 onwards. As part of the ramp-up, detailed cleanliness and health check protocols have been drafted and implemented in consonance and compliance with all Government regulations and guidelines. These protocols have been reviewed and approved by appropriate authorities and adherence is strictly monitored by our in-house health and security staff,” the company said in a statement. After a month-long shutdown, Bajaj Auto had reopened its plant at Aurangabad in Maharashtra on April 22, and due to the fear of the virus, the company was also working with a limited workforce. The Aurangabad plant handles a bulk of the exports of motorcycles and three-wheelers for the company. However, the company did accept that it had one Covid19 positive worker on June 6. For which, it took all necessary measures for testing, contact tracing, self-isolation and complete sanitation as per protocol. The company is now seeing demand normalizing at a faster rate than it expected. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/from-bajaj-auto-and-eicher-to-tata-motors-factories-and-dealerships-are-open-waiting-for-pent-up-demand/slidelist/76445010.cms">According to Jeffries report, overall sales for June were </a>expected to be back at 80% of the normal times with the second half of the month at an almost 90% of the normal level. There is a large component of pent up demand that is driving current sales, it said. Since the beginning of 2020, Bajaj Auto’s share price has taken a massive hit because of the coronavirus pandemic, subdued sales and shutting down of showrooms and factories. The share price declined over 10.37% since the beginning of the fourth quarter, till date. The stocks, however, were on a positive trajectory after the automaker reopened many of its plants. <div type="image" title="Copy of Bajaj Auto Share price (1)" msid="76641770" hostid="261"></div> Earlier, <keyword id="45497" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Bajaj">Rajiv Bajaj</keyword>, managing director, Bajaj Auto had said that India’s approach for a lockdown was all wrong. "India has been in a draconian lockdown since the coronavirus outbreak. The draconian lockdown has flattened the wrong curve and that being of the GDP," said Bajaj in an interview with Congress’ Rahul Gandhi. Bajaj has been batting for the economy to <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/crisis-started-by-coronavirus-spread-by-government-rajiv-bajaj/cid/1766929">reopen even during the lockdow</a>n. He had said that the government should allow everyone to return to work except for those above 60 to help the economy recover. Bajaj told Rahul that India made a mistake by looking at the "West" and not the "East." He said India should have looked at Japan and South Korea rather than Europe and the US. "Don't understand how despite being an Asian country, we sought not to look East; we looked at Italy, France, Spain, UK &amp; US. Not right benchmarks in any sense be it in terms of inherent immunity, temperature, demography etc. We should have never been looking at the west, who are geographically and demographically different from us," he had said. Bajaj’s concerns came as Indian automakers have been dealing with the auto slowdown since last year and just as they were hoping to recover sales, the coronavirus lockdown hit them again. Moody’s Investor Service, the credit rating agency earlier said it expects global auto sales to fall 20% in 2020, more than its previous estimate of about 2.5% drop due to coronavirus concerns. It also retained a “negative” outlook on the sector and said it expects a healthy rebound in global sales in 2021 with a growth of 11.5%. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/from-bajaj-auto-and-eicher-to-tata-motors-factories-and-dealerships-are-open-waiting-for-pent-up-demand/slidelist/76445010.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> From Bajaj Auto and Eicher to Tata Motors⁠— factories and dealerships are open waiting for ‘pent up demand’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/bajaj-auto-share-price-quarterly-profit-margin-and-new-tax-rate/articleshow/75848949.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bajaj Auto’s profit margin springs up⁠ and the Pulsar maker opts for new tax rate to widen it further⁠— the shares jump over 4%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/bajaj-auto-sales-slid-almost-38-in-march-when-the-covid-19-lockdown-was-in-place-for-just-a-week/articleshow/75818885.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bajaj Auto sales slid almost 38% in March when the COVID-19 lockdown was in place for just a week</a>

Bajaj Auto denies that its Aurangabad plant is shut, says proper protocol was followed after one worker was COVID-19 positive

One of the few positive outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is the commitment by major nations to achieve net zero carbon emissions by a certain year. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has also committed to becoming a net zero country by 2070. While some developed nations may have scoffed at this timeline, the reality is that nations with different developmental trajectories cannot (and should not) be treated equally. The major polluters must first walk the talk and then expect others to follow suit. While it is a never-ending blame game between the developed and developing nations, in the interest of humanity and for their own well-being, the nations must do everything within their powers to ensure that they keep their emissions under control. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Policy initiatives in India" comment="subhead" text="Policy initiatives in India">Policy initiatives in India</cmsannotation> India has taken several measures towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. Our statutory framework ensures that air and water pollution is prevented and controlled, forests are conserved and restored, biological diversity is protected, and energy is generated and utilised efficiently to ensure minimal environmental impact. The Government has launched various policy initiatives to work towards its climate change commitments. The national and state action plans on climate change aim at integrating such climate action into their modus operandi. Among national schemes, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) focuses on clean mobility and is meant to promote the transition to electric vehicles by providing incentives for manufacturing, adoption and development of associated infrastructure for electric vehicles. Financial assistance is being offered at the central and state levels for developing solar and wind energy projects like solar parks, grid-connected solar rooftops in residential buildings, installing off-grid solar devices and solar-based LED lights. Initiatives like Gujarat Emissions Trading Scheme, Renewable Energy Certificate, Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme are all meant to promote renewables, reduce emissions and achieve energy efficiency at the central and state levels. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Recent impetus to climate action" comment="subhead" text="Recent impetus to climate action">Recent impetus to climate action</cmsannotation> Some important and innovative schemes initiated in India to combat climate change include the India Cooling Action Plan 2019, which aims to reduce direct and indirect emissions from energy-intensive cooling devices like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. The National Clean Air Program 2019 aims to reduce air pollution and addresses several forms of harmful emissions. The National Hydrogen Mission launched in 2021 aims to help India achieve its climate targets by making India a green hydrogen hub. India is also targeting to increase the usage of alternative fuels to reduce emissions by blending 20% Ethanol in petrol by 2025. Moreover, policies like National Building Code, 2016, Energy Conservation Building Code, 2017, Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme, green energy rating system, star rating programme, etc., seek to promote sustainability in the construction sector by improving energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, recycling, etc. The union budget for the financial year 2022-23 also announced initiatives for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies through sovereign green bonds, blended finance, etc. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Local and regional climate action" comment="subhead" text="Local and regional climate action">Local and regional climate action</cmsannotation> In addition to the various central government initiatives being implemented across the country, various states are devising their own strategies and plan to combat climate change. States like Gujarat, Odisha, and <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword> have constituted specific departments and cells to focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Kerala has announced a dedicated fund for this purpose and has issued green bonds to invest in climate resilience activities. <keyword id="13126" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="maharashtra" source="Orion">Maharashtra</keyword> has released the Mumbai Climate Action Plan to address climate change impacts in the coastal megacity and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It is not just the central and state governments but also the corporates are taking active steps to combat climate change. More than sixty Indian companies have announced their net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets. Leading Indian companies, including <keyword id="8555" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tata" source="Orion">Tata</keyword>, Reliance, Mahindra, ITC, Adani Transmission, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel, and Dalmia Cement, have voluntarily pledged to move towards carbon neutrality through GHG emissions reduction and energy efficiency. With environmental, social and governance (<keyword id="77363" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="esg" source="Orion">ESG</keyword>) issues gaining prominence and ESG reporting becoming mandatory for the top 1000 companies, almost all major companies are addressing ESG issues to set their house in order and adopt the best practices. Various Indian banks have also incorporated ESG considerations into their lending policies. Therefore, be it the government or the private sector, every stakeholder has realised the importance of climate action and is working to prevent the planetary crisis, which, not to forget, affects almost all living species, including humans. <keyword id="12498063" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nawneet-vibhaw" source="Orion">Nawneet Vibhaw</keyword> is a <keyword id="6399933" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="partner" source="Orion">Partner</keyword> at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp; Co. in the Environmental Law practice. This column is part of a year-long (2022-23) campaign on the theme “Only One Earth: Sustaining People, Planet and Prosperity” by Business Insider India’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability">Sustainability Insider</a>. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the author/interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India. The article has been partly edited for length and clarity.

You Searched For "Maharashtra positivity rate" and got 7 results

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COVID-19: These are the five states in India with the highest positivity rates

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Around 20.61 lakh COVID-19 test conducted in a single day, positivity rate dips to 12.59%, says Union health ministry

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Bajaj Auto denies that its Aurangabad plant is shut, says proper protocol was followed after one worker was COVID-19 positive

Navdeep Yadav

OPINION: Towards a carbon-neutral India — How central, state governments, and corporations are striving to tackle the planetary crisis

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