News Analysis India

Tag: COVID

  • congress: Triple blow of demonetisation, GST, unplanned Covid lockdowns decimated MSMEs in TN: Congress

    New Delhi: Asserting that the MSMEs are India’s “job creators”, the Congress on Monday said the triple blow of demonetisation, GST and the unplanned COVID lockdowns decimated the MSME ecosystem in Tamil Nadu and alleged the unemployment crisis of today’s India is a “Modi-made creation”. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that before the BJP came to power, Tamil Nadu boasted a thriving ecosystem of more than 10 lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), more than any other state.

    “The triple blow of demonetisation, GST and the unplanned COVID lockdowns decimated the MSME ecosystem. As Rahul Gandhi has been consistently highlighting through the last ten years and as he reiterated during the INDIA bloc’s mega rally in Coimbatore on April 12, MSMEs in the Kongu Nadu region, the state’s industrial heartland, are still reeling from the Centre’s mismanagement,” Ramesh alleged.

    This “man-made disaster” brought nearly all economic activity to a standstill and businesses were unable to pay workers and consumption ground to a halt, the Congress leader claimed. “Kongu Nadu’s MSMEs, highly dependent on cash flow, were hit hard. In Tiruppur, as many as 1,000 small factories closed unable to withstand the sudden economic upheaval. Textile exports fell from the expected Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 26,000 crore,” he said.

    Ramesh said the second blow delivered by the NDA government to the MSMEs in Tamil Nadu was the GST.

    “The overly complex tax regime was brought in hastily, with no concern for the heavy expense that onerous filing requirements place on the MSMEs,” Ramesh said. The impact was that while large enterprises saw their effective tax rate rise from 27 per cent to 28 percent, the MSMEs saw their effective tax rate nearly double from the previous regime, he added. “By 2019, almost 50,000 MSMEs in Tamil Nadu were forced to shut shop. More than 5.19 lakh people lost their jobs in 2017-18 alone. In Coimbatore, MSMEs were manufacturing pumps worth Rs 50 crore daily. Post GST, the trade volume nosedived to barely Rs 5 crore. Textile exports from Tiruppur fell by Rs 16,000 crore in 2017-18,” he said.

    Ramesh further pointed out that production fell by 20-25 per cent in Sivakasi’s firecracker industry, which supports three lakh workers.

    He said the NDA’s third onslaught on the MSMEs came just as the sector was recovering from demonetisation and GST with the lockdown devastating the MSME balance sheets and severely constraining demand even as the migrant crisis was constraining labour supply.

    “MSMEs are India’s primary job creators. The devastation wrought upon them meant that by April 2020, Tamil Nadu’s unemployment rate had climbed to 49.8 per cent, the highest in the country,” Ramesh said.

    “A July 2020 survey, conducted during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, indicated severe financial stresses. 31 per cent of MSMEs were considering seeking credit from predatory money lenders as commercial banks refused to lend to them,” he added.

    The Congress leader said that 55 per cent of the MSMEs laid off workers during the pandemic, with 20 per cent reporting that they laid off or had planned to lay off over 50 per cent of their workforce.

    At the national level, the Modi government’s crony capitalism has meant a deliberate neglect of MSME issues, he alleged.

    “While large corporations have received massive loan write-offs worth Rs 16 lakh crores, the MSMEs have received no such relief,” Ramesh said.

    “The Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA), the apex body of MSME associations in the State, demanded that the Union government create a separate Income Tax bracket for MSMEs to distinguish them from large corporate firms. Their pleas fell on deaf ears,” he added.

    Ramesh said the government has not intervened to help the MSMEs that face elevated raw material costs from the cartels of large-scale steel, aluminium, rubber and plastic manufacturers.

    In the Kongu Nadu region, GST refunds amounting to nearly Rs 1,200 crore are pending for around 2,000 viscose fabric weaving units, Ramesh said, adding that close to 500 units have closed because of the pending refund.

    “The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association has sought a cut in GST rates on labour charges or job work undertaken by micro and small engineering units from the current 12 per cent to either 5 per cent or nil. The demand has not been met,” he said.

    “MSMEs are India’s job creators. The unemployment crisis of today’s India is a Modi-made creation. The next time the BJP claims to be pro-industry or pro-manufacturing, it must introspect on the damage it has done to Kongu Nadu, one of India’s most important industrial belts,” Ramesh said.

  • Not Covid, but this flu plaguing India is unsparing; IMA against indiscriminate use of antibiotics

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: If you have had a persistent raging cough for weeks that not only hurts your chest or stomach but even makes you hoarse, or you are losing your voice for some days, then you are among those hundreds of people who are suffering from this viral infection which is currently affecting people all across India.

    The viral infection – accompanied by fever, cough, sore throat, troubled breathing, headache, muscle pain, cold, body chill and fatigue – has even affected the medical fraternity, with many doctors saying that it has not spared them too.

    Though it is not Covid, it leaves you exhausted, physically and mentally, as the cough lasts for weeks.

    The viral infection, which has Covid-like symptoms, is so vicious that many took to Twitter about this new “cold bug.” Among them was the acclaimed economist and writer Sanjeev Sanyal. 

    Minutes after his tweet, which went viral, many responded to him from different Indian cities, some of them doctors, saying that they too suffered from the nasty viral infection.

    Dr Rejeev Jayadevan, an epidemiologist and co-chairman of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there are various reasons for the rise in viral infection, which has similar symptoms like Covid, but the main cause is Influenza A.

    “Though Covid continues its low tide in India, various viruses are circulating causing respiratory illness,” he said, adding that some previously healthy people who had Covid have gone on to develop a chronic cough. “This is attributed to airway hyperreactivity. Fortunately, this is responsive to medications,” he added.

    The best way is to isolate oneself from others, just like in Covid-19, to stop the infection from spreading.

    According to Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, for the past month, she has seen an increase in the number of flu cases, and it is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2.

    “This time, the cases are the same, but the fever severity is a bit more, and the cough is more intense. The cough is severe because of swelling on vocal cords and laryngitis,” she told The New Indian Express.

    Prof Dr S K Chhabra, Head of Department – Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Primus Hospital, Chanakyapuri, blamed the abrupt change in season from winter to summer for the increased hospital patient load. 

    “While there are more cardiovascular cases in the winter, there are also more viral infections during the transitional conditions,” he said, adding that as the weather changed quickly, they saw an increase of 90 percent in patients reporting viral infections in their OPDs.

    He added that people with viral infections face additional challenges due to pollution. “Children, pregnant women, and older adults are most susceptible to infection. They must therefore exercise extreme caution when going outside,” he added.

    Dr Sunita Kapoor, Director and Consultant Pathologist at City X-Ray and Scan Clinic, many people are visiting them for respiratory infections.

    “Most of these viral respiratory illnesses are due to H3N2 (Influenza A), a few Influenza B and Rhinovirus, but not Covid or H1N1,” she added. 

    Dr Manish Jangra, the founding member of FAIMA Doctors Association, said that about 30 percent of doctors, including senior professors, he is in touch with have complained of suffering from the viral infection. “I, too, was ill with the same symptom. I had to use a nebuliser as I had trouble breathing and chest pain because of a persistent cough for over 25 days.”

    As the cases pile up, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) advised against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. 

    Dr Jayadevan said antibiotics are effective only for infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.  “Unnecessary use of antibiotics, often by self-medication, helped by easy availability over-the-counter is a problem in India. People tend to buy antibiotics as soon as they get a fever or cough, often without qualified medical advice. This leads to AMR or antimicrobial resistance – a situation when bacteria that are exposed to antibiotics develop new mechanisms to become resistant to these medications,” he said.

    Dr Deepak Sharma, Consultant Pulmonologist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, said among the steps people should take is to avoid any exercise as cold and dry air accentuate bronchoconstriction. “This is leading to feelings of suffocation and breathlessness, with many people complaining of chest tightness, wheezing, and even change in voice,” he said. 

    Not all, but most of it can be prevented or avoided by staying hydrated, covering up adequately, using humidifiers, taking the flu vaccine, and inhalers when necessary, he added.

    NEW DELHI: If you have had a persistent raging cough for weeks that not only hurts your chest or stomach but even makes you hoarse, or you are losing your voice for some days, then you are among those hundreds of people who are suffering from this viral infection which is currently affecting people all across India.

    The viral infection – accompanied by fever, cough, sore throat, troubled breathing, headache, muscle pain, cold, body chill and fatigue – has even affected the medical fraternity, with many doctors saying that it has not spared them too.

    Though it is not Covid, it leaves you exhausted, physically and mentally, as the cough lasts for weeks.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The viral infection, which has Covid-like symptoms, is so vicious that many took to Twitter about this new “cold bug.” Among them was the acclaimed economist and writer Sanjeev Sanyal. 

    Minutes after his tweet, which went viral, many responded to him from different Indian cities, some of them doctors, saying that they too suffered from the nasty viral infection.

    Dr Rejeev Jayadevan, an epidemiologist and co-chairman of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there are various reasons for the rise in viral infection, which has similar symptoms like Covid, but the main cause is Influenza A.

    “Though Covid continues its low tide in India, various viruses are circulating causing respiratory illness,” he said, adding that some previously healthy people who had Covid have gone on to develop a chronic cough. “This is attributed to airway hyperreactivity. Fortunately, this is responsive to medications,” he added.

    The best way is to isolate oneself from others, just like in Covid-19, to stop the infection from spreading.

    According to Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, for the past month, she has seen an increase in the number of flu cases, and it is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2.

    “This time, the cases are the same, but the fever severity is a bit more, and the cough is more intense. The cough is severe because of swelling on vocal cords and laryngitis,” she told The New Indian Express.

    Prof Dr S K Chhabra, Head of Department – Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Primus Hospital, Chanakyapuri, blamed the abrupt change in season from winter to summer for the increased hospital patient load. 

    “While there are more cardiovascular cases in the winter, there are also more viral infections during the transitional conditions,” he said, adding that as the weather changed quickly, they saw an increase of 90 percent in patients reporting viral infections in their OPDs.

    He added that people with viral infections face additional challenges due to pollution. “Children, pregnant women, and older adults are most susceptible to infection. They must therefore exercise extreme caution when going outside,” he added.

    Dr Sunita Kapoor, Director and Consultant Pathologist at City X-Ray and Scan Clinic, many people are visiting them for respiratory infections.

    “Most of these viral respiratory illnesses are due to H3N2 (Influenza A), a few Influenza B and Rhinovirus, but not Covid or H1N1,” she added. 

    Dr Manish Jangra, the founding member of FAIMA Doctors Association, said that about 30 percent of doctors, including senior professors, he is in touch with have complained of suffering from the viral infection. “I, too, was ill with the same symptom. I had to use a nebuliser as I had trouble breathing and chest pain because of a persistent cough for over 25 days.”

    As the cases pile up, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) advised against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. 

    Dr Jayadevan said antibiotics are effective only for infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.  “Unnecessary use of antibiotics, often by self-medication, helped by easy availability over-the-counter is a problem in India. People tend to buy antibiotics as soon as they get a fever or cough, often without qualified medical advice. This leads to AMR or antimicrobial resistance – a situation when bacteria that are exposed to antibiotics develop new mechanisms to become resistant to these medications,” he said.

    Dr Deepak Sharma, Consultant Pulmonologist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, said among the steps people should take is to avoid any exercise as cold and dry air accentuate bronchoconstriction. “This is leading to feelings of suffocation and breathlessness, with many people complaining of chest tightness, wheezing, and even change in voice,” he said. 

    Not all, but most of it can be prevented or avoided by staying hydrated, covering up adequately, using humidifiers, taking the flu vaccine, and inhalers when necessary, he added.

  • India to drop pre-departure Covid tests for travellers from China, other countries

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India will drop the need for pre-departure Covid-19 tests and the uploading of the Air Suvidha form for international passengers from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand and Japan. But random testing of 2 percent of all international travellers at the airports will continue.

    The new guidelines for international arrivals will come into practice from 11am Monday.

    The decision to drop the existing requirements of pre-departure Covid-19 testing and uploading of Air Suvidha form from passengers travelling from these hotspot countries was taken after they witnessed a “sustained and significant decline in the trajectory of Covid-19 cases in the last four weeks.”

    In a letter to the Secretary of Aviation, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “Ministry is updating its ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’, and dropping the existing requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Air Suvidha’ portal applicable for international travellers coming from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.”

    “Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a part of its proactive yet graded public health response to COVID-19 management has been updating ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ from time to time. In the last update, based on the increasing trajectory of COVID-19 and circulation of mutant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in some countries, the Ministry had mandated requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Air Suvidha’ Portal,” the letter said.

    ALSO READ | Covid -19 still a global health emergency, but in transition point: WHO

    The health secretary also said that as per the World Health Organization’s latest situational update on Covid-19, a decline of 89 percent in the number of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been noted globally as compared to 28 days prior to that.

    “Meanwhile, India has continued to witness a declining trajectory, with less than 100 new cases/day being reported,” the letter said.

    However, 2 per cent random testing will continue “in order to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India, the present exercise of random testing of 2 per cent travellers to India (irrespective of country of origin) upon arrival in India shall continue.”

    On December 29, the ministry had announced mandatory pre-departure testing and uploading of negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test reports and self-health declaration forms on the Air Suvidha portal for travellers coming from these hotspotcountries. The step was taken in view of a surge in Covid cases in some countries, including neighbouring China.

    NEW DELHI: India will drop the need for pre-departure Covid-19 tests and the uploading of the Air Suvidha form for international passengers from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand and Japan. But random testing of 2 percent of all international travellers at the airports will continue.

    The new guidelines for international arrivals will come into practice from 11am Monday.

    The decision to drop the existing requirements of pre-departure Covid-19 testing and uploading of Air Suvidha form from passengers travelling from these hotspot countries was taken after they witnessed a “sustained and significant decline in the trajectory of Covid-19 cases in the last four weeks.”

    In a letter to the Secretary of Aviation, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “Ministry is updating its ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’, and dropping the existing requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Air Suvidha’ portal applicable for international travellers coming from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.”

    “Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a part of its proactive yet graded public health response to COVID-19 management has been updating ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ from time to time. In the last update, based on the increasing trajectory of COVID-19 and circulation of mutant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in some countries, the Ministry had mandated requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Air Suvidha’ Portal,” the letter said.

    ALSO READ | Covid -19 still a global health emergency, but in transition point: WHO

    The health secretary also said that as per the World Health Organization’s latest situational update on Covid-19, a decline of 89 percent in the number of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been noted globally as compared to 28 days prior to that.

    “Meanwhile, India has continued to witness a declining trajectory, with less than 100 new cases/day being reported,” the letter said.

    However, 2 per cent random testing will continue “in order to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India, the present exercise of random testing of 2 per cent travellers to India (irrespective of country of origin) upon arrival in India shall continue.”

    On December 29, the ministry had announced mandatory pre-departure testing and uploading of negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test reports and self-health declaration forms on the Air Suvidha portal for travellers coming from these hotspotcountries. The step was taken in view of a surge in Covid cases in some countries, including neighbouring China.

  • SC gives six weeks to Centre to decide fate of Ukraine-returned medicos  

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The central government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a committee of experts to find a solution for the students who could not complete their medical training in foreign countries like China and Ukraine due to the ongoing war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

    A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath adjourned the matter for six weeks after being informed that the committee had met once but needed more time to take a decision. The Centre also needs time to consultss with the states, Additional Solicitor General of India Aishwarya Bhati submitted before the bench.

    The court also reiterated that it cannot go on compromising with medical education and would go as per the committee’s recommendations. On July 28, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had notified a scheme allowing students who were in the last year of their undergraduate medical course and those who were granted certificate of completion of course/degree before June 30, 2022 to take the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination.

    Upon qualifying the FMG examination, the medical graduates were required to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship for two years. Since the scheme was applicable to students in their last year and the batch of pleas were filed by students in their penultimate year, the SC while expressing concerns with regards to students’ career on December 9 had asked the Centre and NMC to constitute a committee.

    Also in top court

    SC grants interim bail to Ashish Mishra The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted an eight-week interim bail to Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish in the “unfortunate ghastly incident” of violence in 2021 at Lakhimpur Kheri which claimed eight lives, and directed him to leave Uttar Pradesh within one week of his release from jail.

    1,091 SC judgments in regional languages  to be realeased todayCJI DY Chandrachud on Wednesday announced that the Supreme Court on 74th Republic Day would release over 1,000 rulings translated in regional languages. The CJI said that SC was on a mission for the provision of its verdict in all scheduled languages. He said that translation now was happening at a faster pace.

    Rana Ayyub: SC asks Gzb court to adjourn proceedings till Jan 31The SC asked a court in Ghaziabad, which has summoned Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case lodged by  ED, to adjourn the proceedings scheduled for January 27 to a date after January 31. The SC said it will hear on January 31 the petition of Ayyub challenging the summons issued to her by the special court. 

    NEW DELHI:  The central government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a committee of experts to find a solution for the students who could not complete their medical training in foreign countries like China and Ukraine due to the ongoing war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

    A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath adjourned the matter for six weeks after being informed that the committee had met once but needed more time to take a decision. The Centre also needs time to consultss with the states, Additional Solicitor General of India Aishwarya Bhati submitted before the bench.

    The court also reiterated that it cannot go on compromising with medical education and would go as per the committee’s recommendations. On July 28, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had notified a scheme allowing students who were in the last year of their undergraduate medical course and those who were granted certificate of completion of course/degree before June 30, 2022 to take the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination.

    Upon qualifying the FMG examination, the medical graduates were required to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship for two years. Since the scheme was applicable to students in their last year and the batch of pleas were filed by students in their penultimate year, the SC while expressing concerns with regards to students’ career on December 9 had asked the Centre and NMC to constitute a committee.

    Also in top court

    SC grants interim bail to Ashish Mishra 
    The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted an eight-week interim bail to Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish in the “unfortunate ghastly incident” of violence in 2021 at Lakhimpur Kheri which claimed eight lives, and directed him to leave Uttar Pradesh within one week of his release from jail.

    1,091 SC judgments in regional languages  to be realeased today
    CJI DY Chandrachud on Wednesday announced that the Supreme Court on 74th Republic Day would release over 1,000 rulings translated in regional languages. The CJI said that SC was on a mission for the provision of its verdict in all scheduled languages. He said that translation now was happening at a faster pace.

    Rana Ayyub: SC asks Gzb court to adjourn proceedings till Jan 31
    The SC asked a court in Ghaziabad, which has summoned Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case lodged by  ED, to adjourn the proceedings scheduled for January 27 to a date after January 31. The SC said it will hear on January 31 the petition of Ayyub challenging the summons issued to her by the special court.
     

  • SC junks RGNLUs plea against HC order of refunding 50% hostel rent from students for Covid period 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court recently dismissed a plea preferred by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala against Punjab & Haryana HCs order directing the university to charge only 50% of the hostel rent from students for the COVID period and refunding the remaining amount. 

    A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath while dismissing NLUs plea noted that there was absolutely no justification for the university to charge entire hostel rent from students while it had charged only 25% from contractors of the mess, canteens, shops, etc. 

    Convincing the bench to set aside HCs order, counsel for NLU told the bench that the university did consider students rights and also granted them discounts in fees. 

    “However, we are in extreme arrears from the government. State is not providing us with any funds,” the counsel also added. 

    Unconvinced by the submissions, the bench while dismissing the appeal asked counsel to pursue litigation against the government in case of non provision of funds. 

    Court’s order came in a plea challenging HCs November 21, 2022 ruling wherein bench of Justices Augustine George Masih and Vikram Aggarwal in their order said, “Those were tough times for everyone. The students were out of the hostel rooms not out of choice but out of compulsion. Their belongings were left in the rooms. There was panic and fear all around. Those who did not have secure jobs were suddenly faced with loss of income. While people were trying to make their two ends meet, the burden of fee etc. was putting them under additional pressure. The institutions also suffered because they had to maintain huge buildings, staff etc. If one weighs all these facts, there does not appear to be any justification for charging the entire hostel rent from the students especially when only 25% of the rent had been charged from the contractors of mess, shops, canteens etc,” 

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court recently dismissed a plea preferred by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala against Punjab & Haryana HCs order directing the university to charge only 50% of the hostel rent from students for the COVID period and refunding the remaining amount. 

    A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath while dismissing NLUs plea noted that there was absolutely no justification for the university to charge entire hostel rent from students while it had charged only 25% from contractors of the mess, canteens, shops, etc. 

    Convincing the bench to set aside HCs order, counsel for NLU told the bench that the university did consider students rights and also granted them discounts in fees. 

    “However, we are in extreme arrears from the government. State is not providing us with any funds,” the counsel also added. 

    Unconvinced by the submissions, the bench while dismissing the appeal asked counsel to pursue litigation against the government in case of non provision of funds. 

    Court’s order came in a plea challenging HCs November 21, 2022 ruling wherein bench of Justices Augustine George Masih and Vikram Aggarwal in their order said, “Those were tough times for everyone. The students were out of the hostel rooms not out of choice but out of compulsion. Their belongings were left in the rooms. There was panic and fear all around. Those who did not have secure jobs were suddenly faced with loss of income. While people were trying to make their two ends meet, the burden of fee etc. was putting them under additional pressure. The institutions also suffered because they had to maintain huge buildings, staff etc. If one weighs all these facts, there does not appear to be any justification for charging the entire hostel rent from the students especially when only 25% of the rent had been charged from the contractors of mess, shops, canteens etc,” 

  • Lowest daily Covid cases recorded in India since March 2020 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  India recorded 89 new coronavirus infections, the lowest since March 27, 2020, while the active cases declined to 2,035, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

    The Covid case tally stood at 4.46 crore (4,46,81,233).The death toll stands at 5,30,726, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The daily positivity was recorded at 0.05 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.09 per cent.

    The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 84 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,48,472, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.17 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of four crore on January 25 last year.

    NEW DELHI:  India recorded 89 new coronavirus infections, the lowest since March 27, 2020, while the active cases declined to 2,035, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

    The Covid case tally stood at 4.46 crore (4,46,81,233).The death toll stands at 5,30,726, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The daily positivity was recorded at 0.05 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.09 per cent.

    The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 84 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,48,472, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.17 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of four crore on January 25 last year.

  • ‘Absence of Covid info’: WHO backs restrictions on travellers from China

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said that the curbs on travellers from China by various countries are “understandable” in the absence of comprehensive information from the ground. 

    His remarks came as several countries from the US to South Korea have placed restrictions on air travellers from China, which is seeing a massive Covid surge but has not revealed data. India also has made it mandatory for international travellers from China and five other hotspots nations, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Singapore, to carry Covid negative test reports. Also, the Covid test needs to be done 72 hours before arrival to India. The rule will be applied from January 1. 

    India has already started conducting random testing of two per cent of international travellers from these countries. In his tweet, the WHO chief said, “In the absence of comprehensive information from #China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations.”

    He said the WHO is “very concerned over the evolving situation in China.” “We continue encouraging China to track the #COVID19 virus and vaccinate the highest risk people. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system,” Ghebreyesus added. He also appealed for specific data on disease severity, hospital admissions and intensive care requirements.

    COVID CURBS ON FLYERS FROM CHINA

    INDIAThe country has mandated a COVID-19 negative test report for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, the health minister said. Passengers from those countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms or test positive.

    UNITED STATESThe United States will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travellers from China beginning on Jan. 5. All air passengers aged two and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau.

    JAPANJapan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travellers from mainland China. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days. New border measures for China will go into effect at midnight on Dec. 30. 

    ITALYItaly has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers from China. Milan’s main airport, Malpensa, had already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai.

    SPAINSpain will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination against the disease upon arrival for travellers from China, the country’s Health Minister Carolina Darias said.

    NEW DELHI:  The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said that the curbs on travellers from China by various countries are “understandable” in the absence of comprehensive information from the ground. 

    His remarks came as several countries from the US to South Korea have placed restrictions on air travellers from China, which is seeing a massive Covid surge but has not revealed data. India also has made it mandatory for international travellers from China and five other hotspots nations, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Singapore, to carry Covid negative test reports. Also, the Covid test needs to be done 72 hours before arrival to India. The rule will be applied from January 1. 

    India has already started conducting random testing of two per cent of international travellers from these countries. In his tweet, the WHO chief said, “In the absence of comprehensive information from #China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations.”

    He said the WHO is “very concerned over the evolving situation in China.” “We continue encouraging China to track the #COVID19 virus and vaccinate the highest risk people. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system,” Ghebreyesus added. He also appealed for specific data on disease severity, hospital admissions and intensive care requirements.

    COVID CURBS ON FLYERS FROM CHINA

    INDIA
    The country has mandated a COVID-19 negative test report for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, the health minister said. Passengers from those countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms or test positive.

    UNITED STATES
    The United States will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travellers from China beginning on Jan. 5. All air passengers aged two and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau.

    JAPAN
    Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travellers from mainland China. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days. New border measures for China will go into effect at midnight on Dec. 30. 

    ITALY
    Italy has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers from China. Milan’s main airport, Malpensa, had already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai.

    SPAIN
    Spain will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination against the disease upon arrival for travellers from China, the country’s Health Minister Carolina Darias said.

  • DDMA withdraws order on deployment of teachers at IGI Airport to enforce Covid protocol

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday withdrew its earlier order directing teachers to be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to enforce Covid protocols, officials said.

    The now-withdrawn order issued by the district magistrate (West) on behalf of the DDMA had said several Delhi government school teachers would be stationed at the IGI Airport from December 31 to January 15 to ensure people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

    The authorities in Delhi on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals in the city to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of a surge in Covid cases in some countries.

    Last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said though the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 of the coronavirus, which is causing the surge in cases in some countries, had not been detected in Delhi, his government was fully geared to tackle any eventuality.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday withdrew its earlier order directing teachers to be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to enforce Covid protocols, officials said.

    The now-withdrawn order issued by the district magistrate (West) on behalf of the DDMA had said several Delhi government school teachers would be stationed at the IGI Airport from December 31 to January 15 to ensure people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

    The authorities in Delhi on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals in the city to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of a surge in Covid cases in some countries.

    Last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said though the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 of the coronavirus, which is causing the surge in cases in some countries, had not been detected in Delhi, his government was fully geared to tackle any eventuality.

  • Covid cases rising in many countries, be vigilant: PM Modi to people

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to be vigilant and take precautions against covid-19, as he noted that the virus is spreading in many countries.

    In his last ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast of the year, Modi said many people are on a vacation or will go on one during Christmas and New Year and urged them to follow protocols like wearing masks and washing hands to ensure that their enjoyment is not affected adversely by the virus.

    The central government has stepped up measures against the virus, with the cases on a rise, especially in China where the lifting of zero-Covid policy has caused a spread of the pandemic.

    Modi has also chaired meetings and his government has written to the states to put in place adequate measures to deal with any spurt.

    The prime minister said the outgoing year, 2022, has been inspirational to India in many ways.

    India carved out a special place for itself in the world with its incredible vaccination doses of over 220 crore and the country becoming the fifth largest global economy, he said.

    The country also achieved the “magical” export figure of USD 400 billion (one billion=100 crore) and made new strides in space, defence and drone sectors, he added and also highlighted its achievements in sports.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to be vigilant and take precautions against covid-19, as he noted that the virus is spreading in many countries.

    In his last ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast of the year, Modi said many people are on a vacation or will go on one during Christmas and New Year and urged them to follow protocols like wearing masks and washing hands to ensure that their enjoyment is not affected adversely by the virus.

    The central government has stepped up measures against the virus, with the cases on a rise, especially in China where the lifting of zero-Covid policy has caused a spread of the pandemic.

    Modi has also chaired meetings and his government has written to the states to put in place adequate measures to deal with any spurt.

    The prime minister said the outgoing year, 2022, has been inspirational to India in many ways.

    India carved out a special place for itself in the world with its incredible vaccination doses of over 220 crore and the country becoming the fifth largest global economy, he said.

    The country also achieved the “magical” export figure of USD 400 billion (one billion=100 crore) and made new strides in space, defence and drone sectors, he added and also highlighted its achievements in sports.

  • Winter Session: Tawang clash dominates House, 7 bills cleared in 13 sittings

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With India-China border clashes dominating the floor proceedings, the winter session of Parliament was concluded on Friday, six days ahead of schedule. The winter session, which began on December 7, was scheduled to end on December 29. However, it was cut short because of the request from legislators of both the Houses in view of Christmas and New Year celebrations ahead.

    The House saw repeated adjournments on the last working day also over the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Tawang clashes. On the last two days of the session, Union Health Minister’s letter to Rahul Gandhi to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in view of the new Covid variant also led to war of words between the Opposition and the members of the treasury benches.

    Though the opposition persisted in discussions throughout the session on the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, the government refused to allow any debate on the matter. While opposition alleged that the government is not being transparent with the border situation, the government maintained that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already made a statement in both the Houses.

    “Disruption as an expression mechanism is antithetical to grace, decorum and sublimity of this solemn platform. The fall out is invariably negative as it generates disillusionment, disappointment, helplessness and hopelessness in the people,” he said.

    In terms of productivity, the House was 97 per cent during the 13 sittings, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his closing speech. The government passed seven bills including the supplementary demands for grants. Earlier, the government was considering taking up 16 bills during the winter session. In Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar said that productivity of the House was 102 per cent. The House held 13 sittings totalling 64 hours 50 minutes.

    NEW DELHI: With India-China border clashes dominating the floor proceedings, the winter session of Parliament was concluded on Friday, six days ahead of schedule. The winter session, which began on December 7, was scheduled to end on December 29. However, it was cut short because of the request from legislators of both the Houses in view of Christmas and New Year celebrations ahead.

    The House saw repeated adjournments on the last working day also over the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Tawang clashes. On the last two days of the session, Union Health Minister’s letter to Rahul Gandhi to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in view of the new Covid variant also led to war of words between the Opposition and the members of the treasury benches.

    Though the opposition persisted in discussions throughout the session on the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, the government refused to allow any debate on the matter. While opposition alleged that the government is not being transparent with the border situation, the government maintained that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already made a statement in both the Houses.

    “Disruption as an expression mechanism is antithetical to grace, decorum and sublimity of this solemn platform. The fall out is invariably negative as it generates disillusionment, disappointment, helplessness and hopelessness in the people,” he said.

    In terms of productivity, the House was 97 per cent during the 13 sittings, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his closing speech. The government passed seven bills including the supplementary demands for grants. Earlier, the government was considering taking up 16 bills during the winter session. In Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar said that productivity of the House was 102 per cent. The House held 13 sittings totalling 64 hours 50 minutes.