News Analysis India

Tag: COVID unlock

  • Physical sessions for classes IX to XII in Goa schools may resume before Diwali: CM Pramod Sawant

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Physical sessions for classes 9 to 12, which have been shut in Goa since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, may resume before the Diwali festival, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. An expert committee of doctors has given its go ahead for the resumption of these classes in a phased manner, Sawant told reporters on Wednesday.

    The decision of the expert committee would be placed before the state COVID-19 Task Force, which will take a final call on it, he said. “Once the task force gives its approval, the state education department would be informed and it will start the classes step-by-step. These classes may resume before Diwali,” the CM said.

    Sawant said that classes 10 and 12, whose students have to appear for board exams, could resume first, followed by classes 9 and 11. “Depending on the infrastructure of schools, the classes will begin for classes 9 to 12 by following all COVID-19 protocols and norms,” he added.

    On Wednesday, Goa reported 83 new coronavirus infections, which took its caseload to 1,76,318, while four fatalities raised the death toll to 3,312, a health department official earlier said. The number of recovered patients in the state rose to 1,72,176 on Wednesday and there were 830 active COVID-19 cases in the coastal state, he said.

  • Covid unlock: Uttar Pradesh govt allows opening of gyms, cinema halls with 50 per cent capacity from July 5

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Further easing the coronavirus curbs, the Uttar Pradesh government has allowed the opening of gymnasiums, cinema halls, multiplexes and sports stadiums at 50 per cent of their capacity from Monday.

    A government spokesperson said on Friday that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the relaxations in view of improving Covid situation in the state.

    Under the new guidelines, which will come into effect from 7 am on July 5, all gymnasiums, cinema halls, multiplexes and sports stadiums will be allowed to open between 7 am and 9 pm five days a week with strict compliance of Covid-19-appropriate behaviour, the spokesman said.

    However, these will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent of their capacity, the CM said at a Covid review meeting, according to the spokesperson.

    The gyms in containment zones will remain closed.

    The CM directed the installation of posters or banners telling about preventive measures at all public places, the spokesman said.

    The chief minister said the government’s focus is on restoring normalcy in the state with an aim to save both lives and livelihood while staying they are ready the possible third wave of the pandemic.

    The CM also instructed to set up helpdesks close to public places to ensure the compliance of the coronavirus protocol, the spokesman added.

    Till Thursday, the state has reported 22,601 infection deaths and 17,06,252 cases.

  • Relax Covid curbs if TPR below 5% and 70% vulnerable groups vaccinated: Centre to districts

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Union government on Tuesday listed out two crucial parameters for opening up districts after weeks of heavy restrictions to contain Covid spread —  test positivity rate of less than 5% for at least a week and a minimum of 70% vaccination coverage for the vulnerable groups.

    There are 344 districts in India as of now which have a positivity rate of under 5%, as per the data shared by the Centre.

    In terms of easing the district-wise lockdown and begin unlocking across states, authorities added that for opening districts, Covid positivity rate should be below 5% for a week but maintained that community ownership of Covid appropriate behaviour remains a crucial tool to keep the pandemic under control.

    Officials also insisted that over 70% of the vulnerable population — people above the age of 60 years and also those above 45 and with comorbidities — must have received vaccine doses in such districts.

    “Gradual lifting (of lockdown) will not witness a massive surge. However, we have to ensure that vaccination is prioritised. The vaccination rate for the vulnerable population must be up to 70% and Covid appropriate behaviour should be followed, “said Balram Bhargava, ICMR Director General during a press briefing on Covid situation in India.

    ALSO READ | CBSE class 12 board exams cancelled in light of pandemic

    The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the positivity rate should remain below 5% for at least two weeks before an outbreak can be considered to be under control in a geography.

    As coronavirus cases across India are now showing a declining trend, many states that had resorted to lockdowns to combat and contain the deadly second wave are slowly opening up but some states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh have extended the Covid-related curbs with specific relaxation.

    The figures presented by the Union health ministry, meanwhile, showed that there has been a steady decline in weekly test positivity rate since the last three weeks even when the testing has increased significantly.

    The weekly test positivity rate in the country was 8.31% on Monday while the daily positivity rate which had crossed 22% during the peak in early May tapered down to 6.62% on the last day of the month.

    Statistics also showed that 30 states in India reported decline in active cases since last week and there has been a consistent decline in active cases which presently stands at 18.95 lakh.

    The active Covid cases have come down by over 18 lakhs since the peak on May 10 which means there has been a decline of almost 50%.

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