New Delhi: As the government figures showed 3,46,786 new cases and 2,624 deaths in the last 24 hours today which makes India witnessing over three lakh COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day, and over 2000 deaths for the fourth consecutive day, the Prime Minister today chaired a meeting to review steps taken to boost oxygen availability in the country. The PM emphasised that there was an immediate need to augment the supply of medical grade oxygen as well as equipment required for patient care both at home and in hospitals.
In view of the severe Covid-19 pandemic raging unabated across the country, and requests received from taxpayers, tax consultants and other stakeholders that various time barring dates, which were earlier extended to April 30, 2021 by various notifications, as well as under the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020, may be further extended, the Government extended certain timelines today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today also briefed that basic customs duty was exempted on Remdesivir and its API – used for COVID-19 treatment and unavailable at many places, recently. It was suggested that import of equipment related to providing oxygen to patients needed to be expedited. In order to augment their production and availability and to meet the rising demand, it was also decided to grant full exemption from basic customs duty and health cess on import of the following items related to Oxygen and Oxygen related equipment for a period of three months with immediate effect:
- Medical grade Oxygen
- Oxygen concentrator along with flow meter, regulator, connectors and tubing
- Vacuum Pressure Swing Absorption (VPSA) and Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants, Cryogenic Oxygen Air Separation Units (ASUs) producing liquid/ gaseous oxygen
- Oxygen Cannister
- Oxygen Filling Systems
- Oxygen Storage tanks, Oxygen cylinders including cryogenic cylinders and tanks
- Oxygen Generators
- ISO Containers for Shipping Oxygen
- Cryogenic Road transport tanks for Oxygen
- Parts of the above to be used for the manufacture of equipment for production, transportation, distribution or storage of Oxygen
- Any other device from which Oxygen can be generated
- Ventilators (capable of functioning as high-flow devices) with nasal canula; Compressors including all accessories and tubing; humidifiers and Viral filters
- High flow nasal canula device with all attachments
- Helmets for use with non-invasive ventilation
- Non-invasive ventilation oronasal masks for ICU ventilators
- Non-invasive ventilation nasal masks for ICU ventilators
Apart from the above, it was also decided that basic customs duty on import of COVOD19 vaccines be also exempted with immediate effect for a period of 3 months.
Out of the 2,624 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, as claimed by the government, ten States accounted for 82.28% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (773). Delhi followed with 348 daily deaths.
Ten States including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan report 74.15% of the new cases. Maharashtra reported the highest daily new cases at 66,836. It was followed by Uttar Pradesh with 36,605 while Kerala reported 28,447 new cases.
India’s total Active Caseload has reached 25,52,940. It now comprises 15.37% of the country’s total Positive Cases. A net incline of 1,24,324 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours.
– global bihari bureau
