<p>The HRD Ministry has asked universities to study how India handled the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and what measures were taken to boost the economy.</p>.<p>The ministry has also advised the universities to set up research teams and study the levels of awareness of COVID-19 in villages near their campuses.</p>.<p>"The HRD minister has desired that universities should study how India handled the 1918 pandemic (H1N1 Virus) and what measures were taken to boost the economy after the pandemic," a senior ministry official said in a communication to the universities.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p>"It has also been desired that universities and institutions in India should study 5-6 villages adjoining or adopted by them regarding best works done in response to COVID-19. The study can be around what the awareness levels in the village are and how they withstood various challenges posed by COVID-19," the official added.</p>.<p>The HRD Ministry has been encouraging academic institutions to make research contributions to aid the fight against the deadly coronavirus.</p>.<p><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-24-829181.html"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p>According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 779 in the country on Saturday and the number of cases stood at 24,942, registering an increase of 56 fatalities and 1,490 cases since Friday evening.</p>.<p>The 56 deaths were the maximum reported in the country in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 18,953, while 5,209 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, it added. </p>
<p>The HRD Ministry has asked universities to study how India handled the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and what measures were taken to boost the economy.</p>.<p>The ministry has also advised the universities to set up research teams and study the levels of awareness of COVID-19 in villages near their campuses.</p>.<p>"The HRD minister has desired that universities should study how India handled the 1918 pandemic (H1N1 Virus) and what measures were taken to boost the economy after the pandemic," a senior ministry official said in a communication to the universities.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p>"It has also been desired that universities and institutions in India should study 5-6 villages adjoining or adopted by them regarding best works done in response to COVID-19. The study can be around what the awareness levels in the village are and how they withstood various challenges posed by COVID-19," the official added.</p>.<p>The HRD Ministry has been encouraging academic institutions to make research contributions to aid the fight against the deadly coronavirus.</p>.<p><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-24-829181.html"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p>According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 779 in the country on Saturday and the number of cases stood at 24,942, registering an increase of 56 fatalities and 1,490 cases since Friday evening.</p>.<p>The 56 deaths were the maximum reported in the country in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 18,953, while 5,209 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, it added. </p>