News Analysis India

Tag: COVID

  • Anthony Fauci’s life, work during covid are PBS film’s focus

    By Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: Dr Anthony Fauci and his tumultuous experience during the covid-19 pandemic are the focus of a PBS “American Masters” documentary.

    The film follows Fauci at home and at work during a 14-month period starting from President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, PBS announced Wednesday.

    “Tony – A Year in the Life of Dr. Anthony Fauci” is set to debut on the PBS “American Masters” showcase in spring 2023, following a planned release in movie theatres. It will show “a rarely seen side of the scientist, husband, father and public servant,” Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO, told a TV critics’ meeting.

    Fauci, 81, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said recently that he plans to retire by the end of Biden’s term in January 2025. He has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and advised seven presidents.

    The pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge for Fauci, his work and his reputation despite his years of widely respected public health service. He’s led research on HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus.

    The film follows Fauci “at home, in his office and in the corridors of power as he battles the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the political onslaught that upends his life and calls into question” his long career as the nation’s leading public health advocate, according to the announcement.

    Mark Mannucci, who directed the 2019 “American Masters” documentary on the Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, directed and is a producer for the Fauci film.

    LOS ANGELES: Dr Anthony Fauci and his tumultuous experience during the covid-19 pandemic are the focus of a PBS “American Masters” documentary.

    The film follows Fauci at home and at work during a 14-month period starting from President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, PBS announced Wednesday.

    “Tony – A Year in the Life of Dr. Anthony Fauci” is set to debut on the PBS “American Masters” showcase in spring 2023, following a planned release in movie theatres. It will show “a rarely seen side of the scientist, husband, father and public servant,” Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO, told a TV critics’ meeting.

    Fauci, 81, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said recently that he plans to retire by the end of Biden’s term in January 2025. He has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and advised seven presidents.

    The pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge for Fauci, his work and his reputation despite his years of widely respected public health service. He’s led research on HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus.

    The film follows Fauci “at home, in his office and in the corridors of power as he battles the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the political onslaught that upends his life and calls into question” his long career as the nation’s leading public health advocate, according to the announcement.

    Mark Mannucci, who directed the 2019 “American Masters” documentary on the Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, directed and is a producer for the Fauci film.

  • Over 220 Covid orphans admitted to Kendriya Vidyalayas

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 220 Covid orphans were admitted to Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under the PM Cares Children Scheme in 2022, with Madhya Pradesh admitting over 60 children, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 17 and Karnataka with 16.

    In Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, 13 children each were admitted in KVs, followed by Uttar Pradesh (17), Tamil Nadu (12), Rajasthan (11), and Telangana (10), Maharashtra (9) and Jharkhand (8).

    In April this year, the government binned the MPs quotas and several other discretionary criteria for admission in the KVs, which is run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVs), an autonomous body that manages these centrally-funded schools.

    In the revised admission guideline, the Centre announced that children orphaned due to Covid-19 will be enrolled over and above the class strength in KVs under PM CARES for Children Scheme.

    ALSO READ | No data on doctors who died of Covid, says Centre; IMA claims over 1600 deaths

    The PM Cares for Children scheme provides comprehensive care and protection to children who have lost their parents to the Covid pandemic, by enabling their well-being through health insurance, and empowering them through education and equipping them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.

    The admission in KVs was made based on a list given by the district magistrate, subject to 10 children per KVs, officials said.

    There are over 1,200 KVs in the country with over 14.35 lakh students. These children, whose parents died due to Covid, will be exempted from payment of fees, including tuition fees and computer funds from classes 1 to 12.

    The government scrapped the MP quota after putting it on hold following a debate in parliament in the last session on whether the special provision should continue.

    While each Lok Sabha MP was earlier entitled to recommend ten students in any school within their constituency, the Rajya Sabha members were allowed to recommend 10 in the state from which they were elected.

    NEW DELHI: Over 220 Covid orphans were admitted to Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under the PM Cares Children Scheme in 2022, with Madhya Pradesh admitting over 60 children, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 17 and Karnataka with 16.

    In Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, 13 children each were admitted in KVs, followed by Uttar Pradesh (17), Tamil Nadu (12), Rajasthan (11), and Telangana (10), Maharashtra (9) and Jharkhand (8).

    In April this year, the government binned the MPs quotas and several other discretionary criteria for admission in the KVs, which is run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVs), an autonomous body that manages these centrally-funded schools.

    In the revised admission guideline, the Centre announced that children orphaned due to Covid-19 will be enrolled over and above the class strength in KVs under PM CARES for Children Scheme.

    ALSO READ | No data on doctors who died of Covid, says Centre; IMA claims over 1600 deaths

    The PM Cares for Children scheme provides comprehensive care and protection to children who have lost their parents to the Covid pandemic, by enabling their well-being through health insurance, and empowering them through education and equipping them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.

    The admission in KVs was made based on a list given by the district magistrate, subject to 10 children per KVs, officials said.

    There are over 1,200 KVs in the country with over 14.35 lakh students. These children, whose parents died due to Covid, will be exempted from payment of fees, including tuition fees and computer funds from classes 1 to 12.

    The government scrapped the MP quota after putting it on hold following a debate in parliament in the last session on whether the special provision should continue.

    While each Lok Sabha MP was earlier entitled to recommend ten students in any school within their constituency, the Rajya Sabha members were allowed to recommend 10 in the state from which they were elected.

  • India reports 49 new Covid fatalities, 20,528 cases

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 20,528 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 4,37,50,599, while the active cases increased to 1,43,449, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,25,709 with 49 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.33 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.47 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 2,689 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    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.

    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.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    NEW DELHI: With 20,528 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 4,37,50,599, while the active cases increased to 1,43,449, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,25,709 with 49 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.33 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.47 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 2,689 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    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.

    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.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

  • India reports 20,044 fresh Covid cases in last 24 hours

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: India reported 20,044 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, crossing the 20,000 mark for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. The country had logged 20,038 infections yesterday. With this, the active cases in the country rose to 1,40,760 which was 1,39,073 yesterday.

    According to the Ministry, 18,301 COVID patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The number of recoveries since the onset of the pandemic stands at 4,30,63,651. The rate of recovery currently is 98.48 per cent. As many as 56 patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 5,25,660.

    4,17,895 COVID tests were conducted during this period and the daily positivity rate in the country was 4.80 per cent (a little more than yesterday, 4.44 per cent), and the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent (4.30 per cent yesterday).

    Under the nationwide vaccination drive in the country, 22,93,627 COVID vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours while 1,99,71,61,438 COVID doses have been jabbed in the country so far.

    Meanwhile, with an aim to increase the uptake of the precautionary dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population, 75 days – ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ will commence on Friday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    This special vaccination drive is a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and aims to provide free precaution dose for all adults (18 years and above) eligible population at Government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs).

    In a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday, States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID-19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose. 

    NEW DELHI: India reported 20,044 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, crossing the 20,000 mark for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. The country had logged 20,038 infections yesterday. With this, the active cases in the country rose to 1,40,760 which was 1,39,073 yesterday.

    According to the Ministry, 18,301 COVID patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The number of recoveries since the onset of the pandemic stands at 4,30,63,651. The rate of recovery currently is 98.48 per cent. As many as 56 patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 5,25,660.

    4,17,895 COVID tests were conducted during this period and the daily positivity rate in the country was 4.80 per cent (a little more than yesterday, 4.44 per cent), and the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent (4.30 per cent yesterday).

    Under the nationwide vaccination drive in the country, 22,93,627 COVID vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours while 1,99,71,61,438 COVID doses have been jabbed in the country so far.

    Meanwhile, with an aim to increase the uptake of the precautionary dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population, 75 days – ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ will commence on Friday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    This special vaccination drive is a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and aims to provide free precaution dose for all adults (18 years and above) eligible population at Government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs).

    In a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday, States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID-19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose. 

  • Nasal spray lowers Covid viral load by 94 per cent in 24 hours: Lancet study

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A nasal spray administered in high-risk adult COVID-19 patients in India reduced viral load by 94 per cent within 24 hours and 99 per cent in 48 hours, according to the results of phase 3 trial of the drug published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal.

    The study on Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) was conducted by Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Glenmark in 306 vaccinated and unvaccinated adults with symptomatic mild COVID-19 across 20 clinical sites in India.

    The trial evaluated a seven-day treatment of NONS plus standard of care versus placebo nasal spray and standard care in patients with symptomatic COVID-19.

    NONS was self-administered six times daily as two sprays per nostril for seven days. The study was conducted during the Delta and Omicron surges.

    The research found that high-risk patients who received NONS had significant reduction in viral load within 24 hours, which was sustained over seven days of treatment.

    Viral load was reduced by 93.7 per cent within 24 hours and by 99 per cent within 48 hours of treatment with NONS. Similar results were observed in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, the authors said.

    ALSO READ | After 145 days, India records over 20,000 covid cases and 38 deaths in 24 hours

    “The robust double-blind trial demonstrated significant efficacy and remarkable safety of NONS,” Monika Tandon, Senior VP & Head – Clinical Development, Glenmark, and one of the authors of the study said.

    “This therapy has the potential to make a crucial contribution to COVID-19 management, with its ease of use in the current highly transmissible phase of pandemic,” Tandon said in a statement.

    NONS was launched in India under the brand name FabiSpray in February, after it received manufacturing and marketing approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) as part of the accelerated approval process.

    Nitric Oxide blocks entry into the nasal passage, kills the virus, and stops its replication, which is why viral load is reduced so rapidly with NONS, the statement said.

    ALSO READ | Down with Covid-19, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin hospitalized

    The median time to viral cure was three days in the NONS group and seven days in the placebo group after the start of the treatment, it said.

    The proportion of immediate contacts having a positive COVID-19 test or becoming symptomatic, remained nearly the same in the NONS group while it numerically increased in the placebo group over the treatment, the authors added.

    NEW DELHI: A nasal spray administered in high-risk adult COVID-19 patients in India reduced viral load by 94 per cent within 24 hours and 99 per cent in 48 hours, according to the results of phase 3 trial of the drug published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal.

    The study on Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) was conducted by Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Glenmark in 306 vaccinated and unvaccinated adults with symptomatic mild COVID-19 across 20 clinical sites in India.

    The trial evaluated a seven-day treatment of NONS plus standard of care versus placebo nasal spray and standard care in patients with symptomatic COVID-19.

    NONS was self-administered six times daily as two sprays per nostril for seven days. The study was conducted during the Delta and Omicron surges.

    The research found that high-risk patients who received NONS had significant reduction in viral load within 24 hours, which was sustained over seven days of treatment.

    Viral load was reduced by 93.7 per cent within 24 hours and by 99 per cent within 48 hours of treatment with NONS. Similar results were observed in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, the authors said.

    ALSO READ | After 145 days, India records over 20,000 covid cases and 38 deaths in 24 hours

    “The robust double-blind trial demonstrated significant efficacy and remarkable safety of NONS,” Monika Tandon, Senior VP & Head – Clinical Development, Glenmark, and one of the authors of the study said.

    “This therapy has the potential to make a crucial contribution to COVID-19 management, with its ease of use in the current highly transmissible phase of pandemic,” Tandon said in a statement.

    NONS was launched in India under the brand name FabiSpray in February, after it received manufacturing and marketing approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) as part of the accelerated approval process.

    Nitric Oxide blocks entry into the nasal passage, kills the virus, and stops its replication, which is why viral load is reduced so rapidly with NONS, the statement said.

    ALSO READ | Down with Covid-19, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin hospitalized

    The median time to viral cure was three days in the NONS group and seven days in the placebo group after the start of the treatment, it said.

    The proportion of immediate contacts having a positive COVID-19 test or becoming symptomatic, remained nearly the same in the NONS group while it numerically increased in the placebo group over the treatment, the authors added.

  • DCGI to review Serum Institute’s applications for Covovax use in kids aged 2 to 7 yrs, 7 to 11 yrs 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The subject expert committee on COVID-19 of India’s drug regulator will on Friday review the applications of Serum Institute of India seeking emergency use authorisation to use Covovax among those aged two to seven years and seven to 11 years, official sources said.

    The two applications were submitted by Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) on March 16 and June 1.

    The expert panel in its last meeting in April had sought more data from SII following its application seeking the emergency use authorization of Covovax for seven to 11 years.

    Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations in adults on December 28 and in the 12 to 17 years age group subject to certain conditions on March 9.

    India began inoculating children aged 12-14 on March 16.

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase.

    Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

    India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1 last year.

    The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years of age to be inoculated against the viral disease from May 1 last year.

    The next phase of vaccination commenced from January 3 for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.

    India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.

    The country began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centres on April 10.

  • Sonia Gandhi writes to ED seeking postponement of appearance till complete recovery from Covid

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to the Enforcement Directorate seeking postponement of her appearance by a few weeks till she recovers completely from Covid and a lung infection.

    The Congress president had been summoned by the agency for questioning in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper on June 23.

    “Since she has been strictly advised rest at home following her hospitalisation on account of Covid and lung infection, Congress President Smt.

    Sonia Gandhi has written to ED today seeking the postponement of her appearance there by a few weeks till she has recovered completely,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

    Gandhi was discharged on Monday from a private Delhi hospital where she was admitted for coronavirus-related complications. Congress has accused the Centre of targeting opposition leaders by misusing investigative agencies and has termed the entire action “political vendetta”.

  • Active COVID-19 cases rise to 25,782 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 4,518 new coronavirus infections taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,31,81,335, while the active cases increased to 25,782, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,24,701 with nine fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 1,730 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.62 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 0.91 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,30,852, while the case fatality rate was 1.22 per cent.

    The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 194.12 crore.

    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.

    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.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

    The nine new fatalities include four from Kerala, two from Uttar Pradesh and one each from Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal.

    A total of 5,24,701 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,47,866 from Maharashtra, 69,790 from Kerala, 40,108 from Karnataka, 38,025 from Tamil Nadu, 26,212 from Delhi, 23,522 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,205 from West Bengal.

    The 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 state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

  • Despite fear, Kheer Bhawani Mela to be held on June 8 in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Even as fear has gripped the migrant Kashmiri Pandits and minority community over targeted killings by militants in the Valley, the annual Zeshta Ashtami festival known as Kheer Bhawani mela would be held at Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on June 8.

    Priest of the Kheer Bhawani temple Pandit Kalbushan Sharma told The New Indian Express that the annual Kheer Bhawani mela would be held on June 8 and preparations are underway for the yearly festival.

    The famous Ragnya Devi temple also known as Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulumulla area in Ganderbal district is revered by the Kashmiri Pandits. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits visit the temple every year on the occasion of the annual Zeshta Ashtami festival.

    The annual festival was held in a low-key affair in 2021 with only a handful of devotees visiting the temple due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the annual mela was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic but the Aarti was telecast online.

    Sharma said in view of the prevailing situation in the Valley, a lesser number of Pandit devotees are expected to visit the temple this year. “We expect 10000-15000 devotees to visit the temple on June 8,” he said.

    The flow of Kashmiri Pandit devotees to the temple has declined after the killing of Pandit employee Rahul Bhat on May 12 and subsequent target killings in the Valley. In 2019, about 55000 devotees visited the temple and offered special puja at the festival.

    The temple premises also has a spring and according to the Pandits, the colour of the water in the spring is an indicator of the situation in the valley. According to Sharma, the spring in the temple has changed its colour and now the water of the spring is blue colour

    “The colour of the spring was pink a fortnight back and now it is blue.  The blue signifies the colour of peace,” he said and hoped that there would be peace and tranquillity in J&K. Sharma said if the spring exhibits red or black colour, it is being seen as a bad omen.

    The Pandits had migrated en masse from Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in 1989. However, they have been annually visiting Kashmir since 1994 to attend the Kheer Bhawani festival.

  • Post-Covid mental health cases increased, says expert

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has over 10 percent psychiatric disorders but post-Covid the ‘hidden cases’ have come up, which need urgent counselling and help, without them being stigmatised.

    These ‘hidden cases’ should be diagnosed and treated, said Dr Nimesh Desai, senior consultant in psychiatry and former Director Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) at an interaction at Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) on Saturday.

    Citing data, he said 25 percent of psychiatric disorders are reported globally, as compared to 50 percent in the US alone. India reports 10-12 percent of psychiatric disorders.

    “There is no denying that the three Covid waves were traumatic for people, especially the second wave when distress, sadness and anxiety levels increased. However, the rest of the two years of the pandemic, people were able to deal with their problems,” he said.

    He said the Tele Mental Health Programme, announced during the union budget 2022-23 to support people who have been facing deteriorating mental health, especially amid the pandemic, is a good move and would be able to address the needs of the masses regarding mental health issues.

    What goes in India’s favour is the strong family support, he added.

    “People should not get scared of post-Covid compilations. One should not connect mental health issues with Covid alone,” he said.

    One can identify if they are having mental health problems if they find their sleep patterns disturbed, along with daily life being affected. “These people should go for counselling and further diagnosis and treatment,” he added.