Here is how Kerala is using its epidemic management skills gleaned from two Nipah outbreaks , ingenious technology-driven use of ‘contact-tracing’ using spatiotemporal data and special schemes to fight the pandemic.
This list is not exhaustive, there are multiple schemes being evolved to cater to the emergency situations that arise from time to time.
- Free ration and grocery kits to all ration card holders (88 lakh families) twice, in April and July.
- Community kitchens opened by local bodies and Kudumbashree. Food provided free-of-cost to those in home quarantine as well as to the public on call.
- All welfare pensions provided in two tranches in April and July. More than 50 lakh beneficiaries across various categories. Allocation of ₹1000 each through welfare boards to 11 lakh members. One-time payment of ₹1000 to the deserving, who are not part of any pension scheme.
- An amount of ₹58.5 crores allocated to NORKA (Department for Non Resident Keralites Affairs) for a payment of ₹5000 each to expats who have lost their jobs or are unable to return to various countries.
- Upto 50% reduction in the additional power charge incurred by the households during the lockdown period.
- Moratorium on all pending taxes, rents and dues for shops and buildings owned by local bodies. Tax concession of one third of quarterly tax payable by private bus owners (Around ₹10,000 concession per bus). Tax payment deadline extended.
- Remuneration of National Health Mission employees, on contract and daily basis, increased. Risk allowance of 25% for nurses and other health workers. Additional expense of 22.68 crores per month under this head.
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Healthcare facilities
Covid hospitals- 29 (All Govt)
Private hospitals willing to admit Covid patients- 70
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Covid beds (Govt)- 8775
ICU beds- 871
Ventilators- 532
Covid beds (private hospitals):- 3400
ICU beds- 176
HDU beds- 129
ICU+ventilators- 66
Covid First Line Treatment Centres
Number of CFLTC beds- 17782
Total number of testing facilities - 126
*Government -27
*Private - 99
Following Government negotiations with private hospitals, per-day charges for treatment in private hospitals fixed at Rs 2,300 in general ward, ₹6,500 in ICU and ₹11,500 in Ventilator ICU
(Inputs from S.R. Praveen and C. Maya)