Tag: Covid 19 outbreak

  • J-K: Rise in tourist inflow cut short by COVID surge, doctors blame laxity by people, vaccine hesitancy

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a rise in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year but that was cut short by a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in the union territory, which many blame on the laxity by travellers in following COVID-appropriate behaviour.

    According to doctors, the prevalence of a new variant of the virus, vaccine hesitancy and negligence of the people in following standard operating procedures (SOPs) for containing the spread of the infection are also to be blamed for the spurt in cases.

    Over 23 per cent of the COVID patients detected in Jammu and Kashmir in March were travellers from different parts of the country.

    In April, so far, travellers constitute about 20 per cent of the total positive cases, official data reveal.

    Most of them were tourists, especially from Maharashtra and Gujarat.

    Tourists arriving in Kashmir through Srinagar airport were made to undergo RT-PCR test but it took two to three days for the reports to arrive.

    Until recently, There was no testing of those reaching here by road.

    “The main reasons for the surge in the cases in Kashmir are tourist arrivals, circulation of new strains, people not following the SOPs and their hesitancy towards vaccination,” a leading internal and pulmonary medicine expert, Dr Parvaiz Kaul, told PTI.

    Kaul, who is the head of the internal and pulmonary medicine department at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science, a COVID hospital here, said it is most likely that the spike in the cases is because of tourist arrivals.

    “By the time a tourist knows he is COVID-19 positive, he would have interacted with many people. Also, there is a good chance that some rapid tests which showed negative results were actually positive.”

    He also brushed off claims by authorities that there was no mutant strain of the virus in the Valley.

    “Only about 0.1 per cent of positive samples are sequenced in India, much fewer in Jammu and Kashmir. So how can we say that there is no mutant strain?” Dr Kaul said.

    A doctor, working at one of the Valley’s hospitals treating COVID positive patients, said the authorities “messed up” by allowing unregulated arrival of travellers without making it mandatory for them to carry negative RT-PCR report.

    “Many times, rapid test result comes negative despite the fact that the person is infected. Also, there was no testing till about a week ago for those arriving by road. They messed it up,” he said.

    A hotel in the heart of Srinagar had to be closed after several of its staff tested positive.

    Their testing was necessitated after RT-PCR reports of some tourists staying there, who were tested at the airport, came positive a couple of days.

    Kaul said there is a possibility of a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the Kashmir Valley as well.

    “We reach COVID peak slightly later than the rest of the country. The way they (authorities) kept everything open, especially tourism, was not good,” he said.

    Also, people were also not following the SOPs and guidelines, he said.

    “They were not wearing face masks or maintaining social distance. Though now, there has been some improvement, people are still congregating like in normal times,” Dr Kaul said.

    He said the people in Kashmir were also vaccine-hesitant.

    “If we do not follow SOPs or sanitise and don’t get vaccinated, then people are doomed,” he added.

    Asked if the healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir could cope with a possible rapid surge in cases, Dr Kaul said compared to the rest of the country, “our infrastructure is nothing”.

    “No infrastructure is good enough for a pandemic. When the numbers go up, any infrastructure can fail and that had what happened in the US, the UK and Italy. Their systems failed despite being way better than ours. Our systems have already collapsed,” he said.

    Referring to the COVID-19 situation in other states and metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, Dr Kaul said what is happening there “is a lesson for us”.

    “In Kashmir, if only 10 or 15 per cent cases need ICU treatment, that means for about an average 2,000 cases, we need 300 ICU beds every day. This means, in two days our ICU bed capacity is full. The system will be overwhelmed in a matter of few days.”

    “That is why, preventive measures are very important,” he said.

    The doctor, however, said Jammu and Kashmir has an advantage when it comes to oxygen supply.

    “We have oxygen generation plants. It is a blessing. However, if people are not careful, then it is going to explode here as well,” he said.

    The doctor emphasised that there is no shortcut to observing SOPs and getting vaccinated.

    A hotelier said while his establishment was taking precautions, they have no control interactions by tourists, especially outside their hotels till their test reports come.

    “By the time someone is confirmed as COVID positive, he may have infected a lot of others,” he said.

    Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 2,030 fresh COVID-19 cases that took the union territory’s total tally of infection to 1,58,374 while 15 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 2,126.

    Of the fresh cases, 1,194 were reported from the Kashmir division and 834 were from the Jammu division.

    Srinagar district recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 591, followed by 530 in Jammu and 180 in Baramulla.

  • India adds record over 3.49 lakh new COVID-19 cases in single day

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With a record single-day rise of   3,49,691 new coronavirus infections, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,69,60,172, while active cases crossed the 26-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with  a record 2,767  daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 26,82,751 comprising 15.82 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.05 per cent.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,40,85,110, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.13 per cent, the data stated.

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

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

    India crossed the grim milestone of 1.50 crore on April 19.

    According to the ICMR, 27,79,18,810 samples have been tested up to April 25 with 17,19,588 samples being tested on Saturday.

  • Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel chairs meet to review situation amid COVID-19 surge

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday asked officials to increase the vaccination coverage in districts where infection numbers are high.

    Chairing a meeting here on the outbreak situation, he also ordered district collectors to declare areas where cases are steadily rising as containment zones and impose necessary restrictions, an official said.

    The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, senior administrative and police officials while collectors and functionaries of commerce and industries’ associations joined online, he said.

    Speaking about discussions held in the meeting, state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said the administration was not in favour of a lockdown, but in almost all cities and containment zones, a ‘no man’s land’ concept will be enforced from 9pm to restrict unnecessary movement of people.

    “It means all shops and commercial installations will be closed down at 9 pm. Only hotels and restaurants will be allowed to sell food parcels,” he said, though he did not disclose when the plan will come into force.

    “The state government is not in the mood of imposing lockdown as of now, nor have we any intention to influence the business activities, but people will have to follow COVID-19 guidelines seriously,” the minister added.

    The state government will focus on three fronts, namely vaccination drive, recruitment of health staff and strict compliance of COVID-19 guidelines to fight the current situation, he said.

    “The chief minister has said there should be no dearth of manpower, and walk-in-interviews should be held to appoint doctors and paramedical staff. He also directed collectors to arrange for beds with oxygen facility in sufficient numbers,” Choubey informed.

    Meanwhile, Baghel, in a statement, said he will not celebrate Holi this year due to the spike in cases and asked people to celebrate on Monday by staying home and exchanging wishes through social media.

    In view of spike in cases, CrPC section 144, which bars assembly of four or more people, has been imposed in some districts, including Raipur, Durg, Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur.

    PTI TKPC’garh CM chairs meet to review situation amid COVID-19 surge Raipur, Mar 28 (PTI) Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday asked officials to increase the vaccination coverage in districts where infection numbers are high.

    Chairing a meeting here on the outbreak situation, he also ordered district collectors to declare areas where cases are steadily rising as containment zones and impose necessary restrictions, an official said.

    The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, senior administrative and police officials while collectors and functionaries of commerce and industries’ associations joined online, he said.

    Speaking about discussions held in the meeting, state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said the administration was not in favour of a lockdown, but in almost all cities and containment zones, a ‘no man’s land’ concept will be enforced from 9pm to restrict unnecessary movement of people.

    “It means all shops and commercial installations will be closed down at 9 pm. Only hotels and restaurants will be allowed to sell food parcels,” he said, though he did not disclose when the plan will come into force.

    “The state government is not in the mood of imposing lockdown as of now, nor have we any intention to influence the business activities, but people will have to follow COVID-19 guidelines seriously,” the minister added.

    The state government will focus on three fronts, namely vaccination drive, recruitment of health staff and strict compliance of COVID-19 guidelines to fight the current situation, he said.

    “The chief minister has said there should be no dearth of manpower, and walk-in-interviews should be held to appoint doctors and paramedical staff. He also directed collectors to arrange for beds with oxygen facility in sufficient numbers,” Choubey informed.

    Meanwhile, Baghel, in a statement, said he will not celebrate Holi this year due to the spike in cases and asked people to celebrate on Monday by staying home and exchanging wishes through social media.

    In view of spike in cases, CrPC section 144, which bars assembly of four or more people, has been imposed in some districts, including Raipur, Durg, Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur.

  • Maharashtra sees highest one-day spike of 40,414 COVID-19 cases

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Sunday reported 40,414 fresh coronavirus positive cases, the highest rise so far in a single day, taking its tally beyond 27 lakh to 27,13,875, the state health department said.

    The state had reached the 26 lakh-mark of cases only on March 25.

    With 108 fresh fatalities due to COVID-19 infection, the overall toll in Maharashtra reached 54,181, it said.

    “Of the 108 fatalities, 56 patients succumbed in the last 48 hours while 29 others died in the last week. The rest 20 deaths had occurred before the last week,” the department said.

    ALSO READ: Maharashtra CM mulling lockdown with ‘minimum impact on economy’

    Mumbai also reported the highest number of new cases in a day on Sunday, by adding 6,933 infections, taking its overall tally to 3,98,724.

    With eight more deaths, Mumbai’s fatality count rose to 11,653, the department said.

    In Maharashtra, 17,874 patients were discharged during the day, taking the total count of recoveries to 23,32,453.

    The state is now left with 3,25,901 active cases, the department added.

    ALSO READ: ‘Can no longer survive’ – Maharashtra traders protest new COVID restrictions

    In Mumbai Metropolitan region (MMR), Thane city reported 1,217 cases in a day while the Kalyan Dombivli municipal corporation added 1,081 new infections.

    Pune city and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad (PCMC) township reported 4,625 and 2,131 new cases, respectively.

    A total of 1,568 cases were reported from other areas in Pune district.

    The number of cases in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) stood at 2,66,875 while the tally in PCMC areas is 1,30,194.

    ALSO READ: Maharashtra clamps night curfew from Sunday amid COVID surge

    The total number of cases in Pune district is 1,19,386, a health official said.

    Nashik city recorded 2,403 fresh cases, taking its caseload to 1,10,453.

    In the district minus Nashik city, 1,159 cases were detected in the day.

    In Marathwada region, Aurangabad city reported 1,031 new cases while 770 infections were detected in Nanded city, as per the department.

    In Jalna district bordering Aurangabad 349 new cases were detected.

    Nagpur city added 2,981 infections during the day while the district reported 1,018 new cases.

    With 1,65,591 new tests, the number of samples tested so far for coronavirus in Maharashtra went up to 1,93,58,341, the department said.

    Maharashtra’s COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 27,13,875, new cases: 40,414, death toll: 54,181, discharged: 23,32,453, active cases: 3,25,901, people tested so far : 1,93,58,341.

  • 4,204 prisoners released on bail, 41 on parole after COVID outbreak in J&K: DGP, prisons

    A total of 542 inmates across various jails were infected with the coronavirus, but all of them recovered, except two elderly prisoners who succumbed due to co-morbidities.

  • Enhance COVID testing, ensure adequate care facilities in view of Kumbh Mela: Centre to Uttarakhand

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Centre has directed the Uttarakhand government to follow all the ‘stringent measures’ to control the spread of the Covid 19 in Mahakumbh 2021. 

    In a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has ‘strongly’ highlighted the concerns raised by the high-level central team during its visit to Uttarakhand. 

    “Currently more than 12 states in India have shown a surge in covid-19 cases during past few weeks, and pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela could also be from these States. As per the report of the Central Team, 10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals are being reported positive every day. This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh,” stated the letter. 

    The letter also added the need for stringent measures to control the spread of Covid-19 during the ongoing Kumbh in Haridwar of Uttarakhand. 

    A high-level team led by the director of the national center of disease control (NCDC) visited Uttarakhand on March 16-17, 2021 to review the preparedness for the Mahakumbh. 

    With newly sworn-in Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat announcing that except center’s guideline no restrictions will be implemented in Mahakumbh, officials of the Uttarakhand state government are worried given the shortage of forces in the upcoming religious congregation. 

    Officials told that at least 15000-20,000 extra force personnel are needed to manage the security of the Mahakumbh. 

    On April 14, which is also the day of the Baisakhi festival the estimates suggest that over 1 Crore devotees may visit the holy city of Haridwar. Officials also added that over 2 Crore devotees can visit Haridwar between April 11-14. 

    Earlier, the estimates were about 50-60 lakh people visiting the congregation but with the change of guard in the state things changed drastically.

    The new CM has made the Mahakumbh his priority with setting the agenda straight. His first order as the CM was to shower flowers on the occasion of Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) on Mahashivratri on March 11. 

    The hill state has already requested forces from many states including neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh but the states have not responded yet. Officials added that UP has panchayat elections due soon due to which chances of availability of force has become slim. 

  • Daily average COVID-19 deaths rise up by 50 per cent in a week 

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  With COVID-19 numbers are rising in India, daily deaths have shot up too. In just a week, the average daily fatality count has jumped by an alarming 47 per cent.

    On Friday, the country registered nearly 40,000 fresh cases in a 24-hour period and also recorded 188 deaths, with Maharashtra reporting the highest 70 fatalities.

    Punjab reported 38 deaths and has the highest case fatality ratio of 3.4 per cent among all states, against the national average of 1.4 per cent.

    ALSO READ: Cases up, COVID moves from outskirts to core areas

    Overall, India reported 1,112 deaths due to COVID-19 during March 12-19 whereas 758 deaths had been reported in the previous week.

    Even though many states are struggling to bring the CFR to below 1 per cent as instructed by the Centre, doctors in cities currently witnessing fresh spikes seem more confident than last year.

    “It’s true that ICUs are getting filled up again, but we are better placed to handle the situation. Even though there may not be a sure-shot remedy for severe cases, we at least know what mostly works and at what stage. For example, we now know when to start using oxygen supplementation,” said Nupur Gangwani, intensivist in a government hospital in Nagpur.

    Better equipped to tackle second wave: Doctors

    Raymond Savio, a critical care specialist in Chennai, another city facing the signs of a second wave, said doctors are better equipped with enough data on medical management and experience.

    “Perhaps this is helping many centres, small as well as peripheral units, to treat patients early and confidently,” he said.

    ALSO READ: We can win COVID battle at homes, not in hospitals

    A few others, however, conceded that things could change drastically if hospitals start getting flooded again.

    “The lack of infrastructure remains a concern everywhere and if more and more people start showing up with severe symptoms, it might turn into a major challenge,” said a government hospital doctor in Delhi.

    Some public health experts stressed the need of tracking the differences in clinical severity of patients, particularly due to the concerns that a variant SARS CoV-2 might be the reason behind the resurgence.

    “I doubt we are doing this, but data from Brazil is showing this trend,” said Oommen John from the George Institute of Public Health in Delhi.

    In Brazil, new infections caused by a mutant strain are causing severe disease in a higher number of younger people and the death rates have also increased.

  • Chhattisgarh government says won’t use Covaxin till phase three trial is over

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo has said that the state government will not use the indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine against coronavirus until its final phase of trials is completed.

    He had written a letter to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, requesting not to send Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin till all trials are over, the minister said on Wednesday.

    The Union government has allowed the use of Covishield vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca and Covaxin developed Bharat Biotech for the COVID-19 inoculation program in the country.

    Singh Deo said Phase-3 trial of Covaxin is not complete, and consent forms sent with Covaxin doses, to be filled by the person administering it, underline this fact.

    The government can not be expected to complete a trial which the company is supposed to do, he said, adding that the vaccine would be used in Chhattisgarh once the final phase of trials is completed successfully.

    As per state officials, 66 per cent of 2.74 lakh health workers selected for the first phase of inoculation have received the jab so far.

    Chhattisgarh had received about 5.55 lakh doses of Covishield and over 70,000 doses of Covaxin, but the state government had not given its consent to use Covaxin, officials said.

    Opposition BJP, meanwhile, accused the Congress government in the state of adopting a stubborn approach over the use of Covaxin.

    Party spokesperson and former minister Ajay Chandrakar said the state government and Singh Deo were trying to get political mileage over Covaxin when it is in demand and being used globally.

    The Union government allowed the use of Covaxin following all necessary tests, he said.

  • India’s COVID-19 caseload rises to 1,05,95,660; recovery rate at 96.7 per cent

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With 13,823 infections reported in a day, India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,05,95,660, while the recoveries surged to 1,02,45,741, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.

    The death toll due to the disease increased to 1,52,718 in the country as 162 new fatalities were recorded, the ministry data updated at 8 am showed.

    The total number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,45,741, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.70 per cent.

    ALSO READ: Covaxin being used cautiously in first phase?

    The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent, it said.

    The active caseload remained below 3 lakh.

    There are 1,97,201 active coronavirus infections in the country, which comprises 1.86 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

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

    ALSO READ: People with fever, pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid Covaxin – Bharat Biotech

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

    According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 18,85,66,947 samples have been tested till January 19, with 7,64,120 samples being tested on Tuesday.

    The 162 new fatalities include 50 from Maharashtra, 26 from Kerala, 11 from West Bengal, nine from Karnataka, and 10 each from Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

    ALSO READ: Centre issues Letter of Comfort to Bharat Biotech for 45 lakh doses of Covaxin

    Out of the total 1,52,718 deaths in the country, 50,523 deaths were reported from Maharashtra followed by 12,281 from Tamil Nadu, 12,181 from Karnataka, 10,764 from Delhi, 10,074 from West Bengal, 8,584 from Uttar Pradesh and, 7,142 deaths from Andhra Pradesh.

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

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

  • Government says recipients of Bharat Biotech jabs are being followed up actively

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday said that the key difference between the administration of Covishield and Covaxin is that the first group of recipients are being followed up only “passively” unlike more robust look out for adverse events in the case of the other vaccine. 

    Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.

    ALSO READ: Covaxin being used cautiously in first phase?

    To a media query, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said while there is a robust mechanism in place to monitor adverse events following immunisation, there is another difference in the way the recipients are followed up in the case of two vaccines.  

    In the case of Covishield, Bhushan said, recipients are advised to stay at vaccination centres for half an hour and report in case of uneasiness.

    For Covaxin, recipients are called everyday to check on their health updates. “They are also asked to sign detailed forms on their health status for a week,” Bhushan said. On being asked about who gets to decide on the use of Covishield and Covaxin, he said it was up to the states.

    ALSO READ: People with fever, pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid Covaxin – Bharat Biotech

    “States decide which vaccine they want. The Centre delivers vaccines to states and then the respective government decides which vaccine centres will get how many vaccines.” India’s active Covid-19 caseload has come down to 2 lakhs with only Kerala and Maharashtra  registering over 50,000 cases, he said.  

    Why worry

    Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.