News Analysis India

Tag: COVID

  • With 46,964 new COVID19 infections, India’s total cases surge to 81,84,083

     With 46,964 new COVID19 infections, India’s total cases surge to 81,84,083. With 470 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,22,111. Total active and cured cases are 5,70,458 and 74,91,513 respectively, said Union Health Ministry.

    With 46,964 new COVID-19 infections, India’s total cases surge to 81,84,083. With 470 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,22,111.

    The total number of active and cured cases are 5,70,458 and 74,91,513 respectively, the Union Health Ministry said. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state by the virus with 1,24,142 active COVID-19 cases, 15,10,353 recoveries and 43,911 deaths.

    Kerala has reported 91,297 active cases, 3,40,324 recoveries and 1,484 deaths. Tamil Nadu and Delhi have reported 22,164 and 32,719 COVID-19 active cases respectively.

    Telangana recorded 1,416 fresh COVID-19 cases, 1,579 recoveries and 5 deaths on 31st October, taking total cases to 2,40,048 including 2,20,466 recoveries, 1,341 deaths and 18,241 active cases, according to the State Health Department, Govt of Telangana.

  • India should assess Covid fight based on recoveries; can still reach $5-trillion goal: PM Modi

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India should assess its coronavirus fight based on the number of lives it has saved instead of the number of infections or the mortality rate. In an interview with The Economic Times, he added that India can still reach its goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy by 2024 despite the setbacks triggered by the pandemic.

    India’s coronavirus tally rose to 80,40,203 on Thursday as it recorded 49,881 new cases in 24 hours. The country’s toll is now 1,20,527. India has 6,03,687 active cases, while the number of recoveries stands at 73,15,989. Globally, India is the second-worst country. The coronavirus has infected more than 4.4 crore people globally and killed 11,73,270 people, according to the Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 3 crore people have recovered from the infection.

  • Haj 2021 likely in June-July; decision to depend on Covid protocols: Naqvi

    Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvion Monday (October 19) said that Haj 2021 will depend on national-international Protocol Guidelines due to Pandemic Position.

    While chairing Haj 2021 review meeting in New Delhi, Naqvi said that Haj 2021 is scheduled for June-July 2021, but the final decision regarding Haj 2021 will be taken in due course keeping in view necessary guidelines to be issued by the Saudi Arabia Government and the Government of India in view of Corona Pandemic to ensure health and well-being of the people.

    Naqvi said that Haj Committee of India and other Indian agencies will formally announce Haj 2021 application process and other related preparations after a decision is taken by the Saudi Arabia Government on Haj 2021.

    Naqvi said that the entire Haj process might witness a significant change in view of necessary guidelines. These include accommodation, transport, health and other facilities both in India and Saudi Arabia.Naqvi said that only because of 100 per cent digital Haj process in India, about Rs 514 crore surplus amount of Haj pilgrims during last 3 years has also been returned back into their bank accounts directly even during this Corona pandemic. This has been done for the first time in the history of Haj process.

  • Sabarimala temple reopens COVID-negative proof required for entry

    Around seven months after it was closed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the doors of Sabarimala temple were thrown open for devotees from Friday, albeit with certain restrictions.

    Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made it mandatory to carry a COVID-19 negative certificate while visiting the temple, while only 250 people are being allowed for darshan (visit) per day.

    Adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines, devotees have started thronging the temple.

    As per the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), only 250 people will be allowed on a single day and booking will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis. A queue portal for the booking has been opened for the public.

    Devotees will ascend and descend through Swami Ayyappan Road, while special marks have been drawn for devotees at Sannidhanam, in accordance with the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

    “There will be no accommodation for devotees at Sabarimala. In addition to the regular poojas, Udayasthamana and Padi poojas, however, will be held,” the TDB said.

  • In “Secular” Row For Uddhav Thackeray And Governor, Sharad Pawar’s Letter To PM Modi

    Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has reacted strongly to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the reopening of places of worship. The Shiv Sena ally wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was “shocked and surprised” at the language used by the Governor.

    “I must mention here that I agree the Hon. Governor can have his independent views and opinions on the issue. I also appreciate the prerogative of the Governor to convey his views to the Chief Minister. However, I am shocked and surprised to see the letter of the Governor released to the media and the kind of language used in the letter,” he said in the letter to PM.

    On Monday, the Governor wrote to Uddhav Thackeray “requesting him to announce forthwith” the reopening of places of worship with Covid precautions. “You have been a strong votary of Hindutva. You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as Chief Minister. You had visited the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadhi Ekadashi,” Mr Koshyari wrote.

    “I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of places of worship time and again or have you turned ‘secular’ yourselves, a term you hated?”

    The Chief Minister retorted that his Hindutva did not require a certificate from the Governor or anyone and that he would take a decision after careful consideration. “You said I am getting divine premonitions? Maybe you get them but I am not so big,” he wrote back in Marathi.

    Mr Thackeray reminded the Governor that the reopening of temples or delaying it “is not a question of secularism” and questioned whether Mr Koshyari had forgotten his own constitutional oath.

  • PM Modi extends greetings to IFS officers

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to all the Indian Foreign Service officers on the occasion of the IFS Day.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said, their work towards serving the nation and furthering national interests globally are commendable.

    The Prime Minister also lauded the officers for their efforts during Vande Bharat Mission and other COVID-related help to the citizens.

    “On IFS day, greetings to all #IndianForeignService officers. Their work towards #ServingTheNation, furthering national interests globally are commendable. Their efforts during Vande Bharat Mission and other COVID related help to our citizens and other nations is noteworthy,” the Prime Minister tweeted. The IFS Day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011 to commemorate the day the Indian Cabinet created the IFS.