News Analysis India

Tag: Coronavirus Outbreak

  • Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Kalawati Bhuria dies during COVID-19 treatment

    By PTI
    INDORE: Kalawati Bhuria, a Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh, died at a private hospital here early on Saturday while undergoing treatment for coronavirus, family sources said.

    She was 49.

    Kalawati, who represented Jobat assembly constituency in Alirajpur district, was admitted to Shalby Hospital 12 days ago, the family sources said.

    Hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Vivek Joshi said that her lungs were 70 per cent infected and she was on ventilator support.

    Her condition deteriorated and she could not be saved, he said.

    She was former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria’s niece.

    She had become a legislator after winning the Jobat seat in 2018.

    Several politicians, including state Congress chief Kamal Nath, expressed grief over her death.

    “The news of the sad demise of Jobat MLA Kalawati Bhuria is very disturbing and shocking. She was an active, gutsy, strong-willed and friendly legislator,” Nath tweeted.

  • COVID-19 vaccine: ‘Private firms to profit from new policy’

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The new COVID-19 vaccination strategy is allowing Serum Institute of India to dominate the inoculation pricing and policy and earn super profits, experts have pointed out.

    It is also in contradiction of an earlier stand by the National Expert Group on Vaccination Administration for COVID-19, which was in the favour of a single point of procurement for vaccines, many felt.

    The shift in policy by the Centre now means that states and private hospitals can directly procure 50% of the supplies from vaccine makers while the Centre will aim its drive to fund jabs for those above 45 at select vaccination centres.

    SII whose product, Covishield, has been the linchpin of India’s COVID vaccination drive so far with over 90% share in total 13 crore plus shots administered so far, has said that it will make available the vaccine at Rs 400 per dose to states and Rs 600 per shot to hospitals from May 1 when all adults in the country will qualify for inoculations. 

    The company had signed an agreement to supply nearly 11 crore vaccine doses — between January and April — at Rs 150 per dose to the Centre and its CEO Adar Poonawalla earlier had indicated that it was recovering the production cost at that rate and was even making normal profit.

    The latest pricing announcement, however, makes it clear that the company is now looking to earn a greater margin on the vaccine, originally developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University through 97% funding by the UK government and the European Union.  

    SII had earlier announced, pointed out R Ramkumar, an economist with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai said it would want to sell Covishield at Rs 1000 per dose in the private market.

    “It could not do it in one go but is looking to maximise its profit and the Centre has succumbed under the pressure,” he said.

    He also stressed that the government, even considering that the vaccine will now cost Rs 400 per dose, will have to spend just Rs 53,000 crore or 0.2% of the GDP to incolutate the entire adult population with two doses.

  • Was lovely having my family home amid COVID pandemic: Catherine Zeta-Jones

    By IANS
    LOS ANGELES: Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones found it lovely to have her family at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, because she found it comforting to be with her closed ones.

    She said: “I must say, personally, it was lovely when we were in a vulnerable and unknowing time to have my peeps, my loved ones around. I had my son home from college and my daughter home from school — she goes to school in Switzerland — so we were all back in our bubble.”

    “Supposedly, speaking to my son, we fared better than many families. He’s like, ‘Mom, you don’t understand. People aren’t talking to each other.’ So, we played lots of games,” Zeta-Jones added, femalefirst.co.uk reported.

    The actress is married to Hollywood star Michael Douglas and they have two children — 20-year-old Dylan and Carys,18.

    The 51-year-old actress also praised her children for how they handled the global health crisis, on the “Late Night with Seth Meyers”.

    She added: “My kids — and I must say, kudos to them — I thought for sure, you know, they’re all back, not just them, but all their other friends from high school, [who] all live down our street … And I thought it was going to be party central, all these kids coming back from college.”

    Now the things are starting to improve following the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination, Zeta-Jones said her kids are “looking forward” to being able to spend the summer with their friends.

  • Delhi Capitals spinner Ashwin urges people to ‘follow best practices’ amid rapid surge in COVID infections

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: As India continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday urged everyone to be more vigilant to fight the second wave of COVID-19.

    India reported its highest-ever single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with over 2.17 lakh new cases and more than 1,100 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday.

    Ashwin, who is currently playing for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, also cautioned the citizens about the severity of the coronavirus.

    “All I can say right now!! We are all spoiling towards ….sday. The virus is right at my doorstep, it will be at yours tomorrow. Let’s try and follow best practices and my sincere prayers #COVIDSecondWave,” Ashwin tweeted.

    In the last 24 hours, 1,185 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,74,308. As many as 2,17,353 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 1,42,91,917.

    The active number of cases stands at 15,69,743. In the last 24 hours, 1,18,302 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,25,47,866.

    Coming to the ongoing IPL, Rajasthan Royals clinched a thrilling win over Delhi Capitals, thanks to David Miller’s 62-run knock followed by Chris Morris’ cameo at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

    With 27 needed off the final two overs, Morris stepped up to the occasion to take his side over the line with two balls to spare. He hit two sixes off Kagiso Rabada’s penultimate over and accumulated 15 runs from it before smashing the winning run in the final over bowled by Tom Curran.

    Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting feels Ashwin not completing his fours overs was a ‘mistake on their behalf’ despite the spinner just giving 14 runs in his three overs.

    “That’s certainly something that we will talk about when I get a chance to sit down with the team. He had bowled beautifully. Three overs, none for 14. Hadn’t even conceded a boundary,” said Ponting.

    “Look he had a disappointing game in game one, but he has worked really hard in the last few days to make sure he adjusted and got things right in this game. I thought he bowled beautifully tonight. Probably a mistake on our behalf, and something we will be talking about later on,” he added.

    Delhi Capitals will next take on Punjab Kings here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

  • Sonia Gandhi reviews efforts to tackle COVID-19 in Congress-ruled states

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday reviewed the efforts by the states ruled by her party to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus infection and the vaccination drive.

    Addressing a virtual meeting with the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states and ministers of the party in states where it is in power in alliance with others, she said the priority should be to test, track and vaccinate.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh and Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel were among those who participated in the meeting.

    ALSO READ| India needs to grow faster to make up for contraction during COVID-19 pandemic: IMF

    While Singh pointed out that Punjab’s vaccination stock will last for five more days, Baghel said Chhattisgarh will run out of the vaccine stock in three days.

    Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the Congress chief also reviewed the efforts to fight COVID-19, including the availability of vaccines, access to medicines and ventilators. “The priority is to test, track and vaccinate,” he wrote on Twitter, quoting Sonia Gandhi.

    “The (Narendra) Modi government has mismanaged the COVID situation. It has exported the vaccines and allowed a shortage to be created in India,” the Congress chief said at the meeting.

    She said that all public gatherings and poll rallies should be cancelled as the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise and asked the chief ministers if the economic packages announced by the Centre had the desired impact.

    ALSO READ| COVID-19: Doubling, positivity rate a cause for concern

    “Mass gatherings for elections and religious events have accelerated COVID for which all of us are responsible to some extent. We need to accept this responsibility and keep the interest of the nation above our own,” Sonia Gandhi said.

    Surjewala said the Punjab chief minister has pointed out a vaccine shortage. “He candidly points out that Central Govt has given no assurance of numbers and supply,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Surjewala also said Gehlot has pointed out that the shortage of the vaccines is a reality that cannot be wished away. “Pointing to the spurt in infections, he states that Centre must take States on board as stakeholders and not as adversaries,” he said.

    Quoting Baghel, Surjewala said he underlined the steps taken by the Chhattisgarh government to fight COVID-19 and pointed out that the state has only three days of vaccine stock left.

    In her introductory remarks, Sonia Gandhi said the number of coronavirus cases is going up and as the principal opposition party, it is the responsibility of the Congress to raise issues and push the government to move away from “PR tactics” and act in the interest of people.

    “Therefore, there must be transparency. Governments must reveal the actual numbers of infections and deaths across the states, whether Congress-ruled or otherwise. We must focus on India’s vaccination drive first and foremost, then only export vaccines and gift them to other countries. We must stress on responsible behaviour — adhering to all laws and COVID regulations without an exception,” she said.

    The Congress chief said cooperation with the states is showing respect to federalism and it is equally important for the states to be constructive and cooperate with the Centre in its efforts to fight the pandemic. “We are all united in this fight,” she said.

    Sonia Gandhi said strict measures need to be taken in the Congress-ruled states to ensure that the pandemic does not go out of control and large-scale testing, preparation of adequate facilities and setting up temporary ones should be ensured. “We must make all efforts to support those who face the brunt of reduced economic activity as the restrictions become harder and more stringent,” she said.

    Gandhi asked, “Is there enough vaccine available? Has the central government been cooperative? What are our states doing to ensure the availability of oxygen, ventilators and other facilities as the pandemic grows?” “What are your views on another lockdown? What about the economic fallout? How bad is the situation in your state? Should public gatherings, including election rallies, not be cancelled?” she asked.

    Stating that various packages have been announced by the Centre to help MSMEs and stimulate the economy, the Congress chief asked, “What impact have these packages had and what more should the government be doing to deal with the continuing crisis? Do you see economic recovery happening in the manner that is being officially claimed?” “According to our discussion on COVID, I would like to be briefed on the latest situation regarding the agitation of farmers that has been going on now for well over five months.

    “The Congress-ruled states have passed their own laws but those have not received the presidential assent. What more should we do even though the keys to the solution are with the Centre, which has created the problem in the first place,” she said.

  • Adopting COVID-19 appropriate behaviour best way to stop transmission of virus, its variants: WHO

    The number of active cases of the disease has breached the 10-lakh mark again after around six-and-a-half months.

  • Maharashtra Congress MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar dies due to post-COVID complications

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar died while undergoing treatment for post-COVID complications at a hospital here, party sources said on Saturday.

    Antapurkar, who was 64, died at Bombay Hospital on Friday night, they said.

    He suffered a multi organ failure and was on ventilator since April 1.

    Antapurkar was a two-time MLA from Deglurassembly constituency in Nanded district.

    Party sources said that the legislator had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 19 and was initially admitted to a hospital in Nanded, before being shifted to Bombay Hospital on March 22.

    HisCOVID-19 report was negative around March 28, but he continued to remain in the ICU.

    His lungs and kidneys were infected, the sources said.

    His funeral will take place in his native Antapur village in Nanded district on Saturday.

    An engineer by profession, Antapurkar gave up his job to join the Congress and won the 2009 assembly polls from Deglur.

    He lost in 2014, but again won from the same seat in 2019.

    He is survived by his mother, wife, two married daughters and a son.

    Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan and state Congress chief Nana Patole expressed grief over his death.

    In November last year, Bharat Bhalke, an NCP MLA from Pandharpur-Mangalvedha constituency in Solapur district, died due to post-COVID complications.

  • Uttar Pradesh Minister Anand Swaroop Shukla tests positive for COVID-19

    By PTI
    BALLIA: Uttar Pradesh Minister Anand Swaroop Shukla has tested positive for COVID-19.

    The minister of state for parliamentary affairs said he got himself tested for the disease on Thursday after noticing some symptoms.

    The test report came out as positive for COVID-19 on Friday, Shukla added.

    “I have isolated myself. Those who came in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested,” the BJP MLA from Ballia said.

  • RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat tests COVID-19 positive, hospitalised

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: RSS Sarsanghchalak (Chief Mentor) Mohan Bhagwat (70) who tested positive on Friday, with ”normal Covid symptoms,” was admitted to the Kingsway hospital in Nagpur on Friday, according to sources in the RSS.

    Mr Bhagwat who has been accorded very high security was rushed in as an inpatient following medical advise and security personnel had accorded security cover to the special room where Mr Bhagwat was admitted as per security guidelines. 

    Mr Bhagwat who served as Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) before taking over as Sarsanghchalak is easily the most important leader in the RSS presently and senior RSS leaders were present when he was admitted on Friday. 

    The RSS in its tweet said, ”Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanji Bhagwat today tested Corona positive.” RSS sources said his condition is stable.

  • India’s COVID-19 tally climbs to 1,32,05,926 with over 1.45 lakh fresh cases

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With a record 1,45,384 fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,32,05,926, the health ministry said on Saturday.

    The number of active cases has breached the 10-lakh mark again after around six-and-a-half months, while the death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,68,436 with 794 more fatalities, the highest since October 18 last year, the ministry’s data updated at 8 am showed.

    Registering a steady increase for the 31st day in a row, the number of active coronavirus cases in the country has gone up to 10,46,631, accounting for 7.93 per cent of its total caseload, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 90.80 per cent.

    The active caseload was at its lowest at 1,35,926 on February 12, accounting for only 1.25 per cent of the total number of cases in the country.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 1,19,90,859, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.28 per cent, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, the 30-lakh mark on August 23, the 40-lakh mark on September 5 and the 50-lakh mark on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19.

    According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 25,52,14,803 samples have so far been tested in the country for the viral disease, including 11,73,219 on Friday.

    The 794 fresh fatalities include 301 from Maharashtra, 91 from Chhattisgarh, 56 from Punjab, 46 from Karnataka, 42 from Gujarat, 39 from Delhi, 36 from Uttar Pradesh, 32 from Rajasthan, 23 each from Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 22 from Kerala, 17 from Jharkhand and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

    Of the total number of 1,68,436 deaths caused by COVID-19 in the country, Maharashtra accounts for 57,329, followed by Tamil Nadu (12,863), Karnataka (12,813), Delhi (11,196), West Bengal (10,378), Uttar Pradesh (9,039), Punjab (7,390) and Andhra Pradesh (7,279).

    The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

    “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that a state-wise distribution of the figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.