Centre will no longer bear cost of hospitalisation for treatment either | Photo from PTI

Within hours of announcement that the government will treat India's growing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease and provide Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the families of those who died of the novel coronavirus, the Centre withdrew the decision to do so.

The Centre earlier mentioned that 'Rs 4 lakh will be given for per deceased person including those involved in response activities, subject to certification regarding cause of death from appropriate authority'.

According to latest announcement, the document had no mention of the aforementioned point.

Apart from Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia, the Centre earlier also mentioned assistance towards the Covid-19 positive person requiring hospitalisation, but according to the latest announcement, this too has been withdrawn by the government.

Within hours of announcement, the Centre withdrew Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for kin of those who died of the novel coronavirus and in addition, now, the Centre will no longer bear the cost of hospitalisation for treatment either.

A revised list of norms for utilisation of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) was issued:

New list of items and norms of assistance | Photo courtesy: Poulomi Saha

WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE DAY

The government had said it will treat India's growing outbreak of the new coronavirus disease, Covid-19, as a notified disaster for the providing purpose of assistance under the SDRF.

It listed assistance norms in a release published earlier on Saturday, and said Rs 4 lakh would be paid to the families of victims, "including those involved in relief operations or associated in response activities, subject to certification regarding the cause of death from the appropriate authority."

Government decides to treat #CoronavirusinIndia as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).#CoronavirusPandemic #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/A0x0BnlQ12 PIB India (@PIB_India) March 14, 2020

KERALA CM WRITES TO PM MODI

After the Centre withdrew the ex-gratia and bearing of hospitalisation cost, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was quick to write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the funds notification.

Pinarayi Vijayan wrote in the letter saying that order, issued earlier in the day, to give Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of Covid-19 deceased and bearing of hospitalisation costs needs to be restored.

"This [earlier] order would have adequately equipped the State to respond and provide relief to Covid-19-affected citizens by being able to provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of anyone who succumbed to death due to Covid-19," Pinarayi Vijayan wrote in the letter to Modi.

Kerala chief minister's letter to PM Modi | Photo courtesy: Poulomi Saha

CORONAVIRUS IN INDIA

India is reporting more than 80 cases of the coronavirus disease, which first emerged in China late last year but has spread far enough to be considered a pandemic. Two people have died in Karnataka and Delhi.

The virus has killed over 5,000 and sickened more than 138,000 across the globe, according to a Reuters count.

There is currently no vaccine or special anti-viral treatment for Covid-19, but supportive care can help most patients recover, according to WHO.

Precautionary measures include regular hand-washing with alcohol-based rub or soap and water, abstaining from touching one's face, and social distancing.