NEWS

In a development expected to help diagnose Covid-19 in suspected patients faster, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) have created an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to help detect Covid-19 from chest X-rays.

According to its developers, the tool named Atman AI used for Chest X-ray screening has shown an accuracy rate of 96.73 per cent. Dr U K Singh, Director, CAIR, DRDO said the development of the diagnostic tool was part of DRDO’s effort to help clinicians and partners on the frontline to help rapidly diagnose and effectively treat COVID-19 patients

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday (May 7) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting immediate supply of additional medical oxygen, in line with what was agreed in government meetings held on May 1 and 2.

The letter mentions that Tamil Nadu is facing a looming oxygen crisis and that the requirement of medical oxygen is projected to go from the current 440MT to 840MT.

Referring to the National Oxygen Plan, Stalin says that only 220MT was allocated for Tamil Nadu, following which the officials had requested DPIIT for an immediate supply. He added that despite DPITT having agreed to provide 476MT of medical oxygen, such an order has not been issued.

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic poses risks to economic activity but the impact will be “muted” when compared to the first wave, Union Ministry of Finance said in its monthly economic review for April. 

The ministry’s statement comes as India continues to record lakhs of new Covid infections and hundreds of deaths every day. Health ministry data released Friday pegged India’s daily total at a record 4.14 lakh fresh Covid infections and 3,915 deaths.

“In April, due to the second wave in India, the momentum in economic recovery since the first wave has moderated… Learning to ‘operate with Covid-19’, as borne by international experience, provides a silver lining of economic resilience amidst the second wave,” the finance ministry said in the review, released Friday. 

As foreign aid continues to pour in to assist India in its fight against coronavirus, the government on Friday said that it has received as many as 2,933 oxygen concentrators, 2,429 oxygen cylinders, 13 oxygen generation plants, 2,951 ventilators/ Bi PAP/ C PAP and more than 3 lakh Remdesivir vials as part of international donations.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also informed that the Central government continues to allocate and deliver COVID-19 supplies received from the global community to states and UTs.