News Analysis India

Tag: COVID19

  • Moderna’s mRNA COVID vaccine expected to reach India this week: Sources

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: US giant drug maker Moderna’s COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine is expected to reach India this week after the completion of some official formalities, informed sources. After getting the vaccines it’s going to be distributed among government hospitals of the country.

    “On behalf of COVAX, Gavi is working closely with the US government and other partners to operationalise dose donations and get doses delivered as quickly as possible so that countries can continue to protect their most at-risk groups. More information on volumes and timelines will follow in due course,” said a spokesperson of GAVI Alliance to ANI on delivery of Moderna to India.

    The GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) is a global health partnership of public and private sector organizations dedicated to “immunisation for all”. It provides a unique opportunity for a wide range of partners to build consensus around policies, strategies, and priorities and to recommend responsibility of the implementation to the partner with the most experience and insight in the area. GAVI has developed innovative approaches to international health and development.

    Last week, Indian drug regulators granted permission to Cipla company to import donated doses of Moderna from the US. These doses will be given to the central government and will be available in selected hospitals of the country, where vaccines can be stored easily.

    Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday informed that more than 36.97 crore (36,97,70,980) vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far, through all sources. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 34,95,74,408 doses as per data available at 8 am today.

    According to a press release, more than 2.01 crore (2,01,96,572) balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories and private hospitals.

    “The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on June 21 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advanced visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them and streamlining the vaccine supply chain,” the statement read.

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the government of India has been supporting the states and union territories by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost.

    In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Centre will procure and supply 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to states and union territory. (ANI)

  • Bihar government eases COVID-19 curbs, colleges and gyms to reopen

    By PTI
    PATNA: The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Monday allowed reopening of colleges, universities and senior sections in schools, besides easing several other curbs that are in place as part of the COVID-induced lockdown clamped on the state two months ago.

    The announcement to the effect was made by the chief minister on his Twitter handle after he chaired a meeting of the high-powered crisis management group which reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the state.

    According to detailed guidelines issued by the home department later, the next phase of unlock will begin from Wednesday, July 7, and remain in force for a month.

    During the period, lessons will be imparted in schools for students of classes XI and XII with not more than 50 per cent attendance and the same will be applicable to colleges, universities and technical institutes.

    However, none of these educational institutions was given permission to conduct examinations during the period. Coaching institutes, too, will remain closed. Strict compliance of standard operating procedure and special arrangements for vaccination at all educational institutions will be a must, the home department stated.

    Gyms, clubs and swimming pools would also be allowed to resume business with 50 per cent capacity, and only those who have been vaccinated would be permitted to use these facilities. Stadiums and sports complexes may permit entry of sportspersons for their practice sessions, though no other activity shall be allowed, the notification said.

    Restaurants have been told to resume dine-in facilities with 50 per cent capacity.

    All government and private offices will be able to function “normally”, doing away with the previous cap of 50 per cent attendance, though those in charge of these establishments will have to ensure that only vaccinated people are given entry.

    Other restrictions such as shops except those dealing in essential items being allowed to open only on alternate days and not beyond 7 pm, besides night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am, will continue to remain in force.

    Places of religious worship will remain closed. However, the number of people allowed to take part in wedding ceremonies or funeral has been raised to 50. Earlier, only 25 people were permitted at such gatherings.

  • India to make CoWIN platform available to all countries: PM Narendra Modi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India’s technology platform for COVID vaccination – CoWin -is being made open source and soon it will be available to all countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, asserting that India has been committed to sharing its expertise and resources with the global community in combating the pandemic.

    Addressing the CoWIN Global Conclave via video conference, Modi said that experience shows that no nation, no matter how powerful, can solve a challenge like this pandemic in isolation. “Right from the beginning of the pandemic, India has been committed to sharing all our experiences, expertise and resources with the global community in this battle. Despite all our constraints, we have tried to share as much as possible with the world,” the prime minister said.

    Noting that technology is integral to India’s fight against COVID-19, Modi said luckily, software is one area in which there are no resource constraints. “That’s why we made our COVID tracing and tracking App open source as soon as it was technically feasible,” he said.

    Asserting that vaccination is the best hope for humanity to emerge successfully from the pandemic, Modi said right from the beginning, “we in India decided to adopt a completely digital approach while planning our vaccination strategy”.

    He said that Indian civilization considers the whole world as one family and this pandemic has made many people realise the fundamental truth of this philosophy. “That’s why, our technology platform for COVID vaccination – the platform we call CoWIN- is being prepared to be made open source so (that) it will be available in any and all countries,” Modi said.

    About 50 countries, including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and Uganda, have shown interest in adopting CoWIN to run their vaccination drives, Dr RS Sharma, the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), had said recently, adding that India is ready to share the open-source software for free.

  • FIR lodged for violating COVID norms at event in Aurangabad attended by AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel

    By PTI
    AURANGABAD: Police have registered a case for COVID-19 protocols violation in connection with a musical programme held over the weekend at Aurangabad in Maharashtra where local AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel was also present.

    When contacted, the Lok Sabha member refused to comment in the matter. The district administration had enforced a ‘weekend lockdown’ to check the spread of coronavirus infection. In a video which went viral on social media, Jaleel was seen present at the ‘Qawwali’ programme, held in the Abdimandi area under Daulatabad police station limits on Saturday night.

    He was also seen getting on to the stage and some people showering currency notes on the parliamentarian. A senior official from Daulatabad police station told PTI on Monday that they rushed to the place where the musical was being held and its videos went viral later.

    “We acted swiftly and registered an FIR against local residents Sohel Jakiuddin, Samir Sajid Builder, Naser Siddiqui and Rafiq Khan and 50-60 other unidentified people under relevant provisions. We are verifying the videos and if necessary, action may also be taken against Jaleel,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and former MP Chandrakant Khiare hit out at Jaleel, saying while ‘warkaris’ (devotees of Lord Vitthal) cannot go to Pandharpur (in Solapur-for religious procession) due to the pandemic, the parliamentarian was “enjoying Qawwali by breaking the COVID-19 protocols”.

    “Some officials from the police department are supporting Jaleel,” Khaire alleged, and said he will meet the police commissioner and seek action against the Aurangabad MP in the case.

    Khaire also said the venue where the musical event took place was close to forest area and such programmes were not allowed there. “A probe should also be conducted against the land owner (of the venue) in this case,” he said.

    The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also criticised the district administration over the issue.

    In a video message, MNS district president Suhas Dashrathe said, “On one side, the poor people are dying here amid COVID-19 restrictions, while on the other side, currency notes are showered on a public representative.”

    Dashrathe said they had demanded a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in Aurangabad for three more hours every day, but the administration did not consider it. “We now want to see what action the collector will take against the musical event organisers and those present there,” he said.

  • SC has given Centre opportunity to rectify its mistake: Congress on COVID-19 relief directions

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Supreme Court has given an opportunity to the government to provide relief to COVID victims by fixing adequate compensation to them. He said doing so would be a step in the right direction.

    SC ने मोदी सरकार को ग़लती सुधारने का मौक़ा दिया है। कम से कम अब सरकार को मुआवज़े की सही राशि तय करके पीड़ितों को राहत देनी चाहिए।ये सही दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण क़दम है। pic.twitter.com/AmUjyaU9k2
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 30, 2021

    The Congress has been demanding compensation to the tune of Rs 10 lakh to each of the victims of coronavirus. There have been nearly 4 lakh deaths due to COVID so far.

    “The Supreme Court has given an opportunity to the Modi government to rectify its mistake. The government should at least now provide relief to the victims by fixing the right amount of compensation. This would be an important step in the right direction,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court gave directions to the government to provide compensation to Covid victims and asked the government to fix the compensation amount and frame guidelines within six weeks.

  • Cabinet approves Rs 6.29-lakh crore COVID-19 relief package announced by Finance Minister

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs 6.29-lakh crore relief package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to support the pandemic-hit economy. This was informed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar after the Cabinet meeting.

    As part of the package to support the COVID-19 pandemic-hit economy, Sitharaman had on Monday announced Rs 1.5 lakh crore of additional credit for small and medium businesses, more funds for the healthcare sector, loans to tourism agencies and guides, and waiver of visa fee for foreign tourists.

    Together with previously announced Rs 93,869-crore spending on providing free foodgrains to the poor till November and additional Rs 14,775 crore fertiliser subsidy, the stimulus package, which is mostly made up of government guarantee to banks and microfinance institutions for loans they extend to COVID-19-hit sectors, totalled up to Rs 6.29 lakh crore.

    The finance minister provided Rs 23,220 crore of additional funding to set up children and paediatric care at hospitals to prepare healthcare infrastructure to deal with any emergency arising due to COVID-19 wave hitting children.

    Further, to incentivise job creation, the government committed to paying the employer and employee’s share to provident fund (PF) for all new recruitments done till March 2022. Previously, the government paid Rs 902 crore for 21.42 lakh beneficiaries of 79,577 establishments.

    With the tourism sector being hit hard by the pandemic, the minister had announced a financial support to over 11,000 registered tourists, guides, travel and tourism stakeholders, in addition to free one-month tourist visa to first five lakh tourists.

    Other announcements included an additional Rs 19,041 crore to provide broadband internet cover to all village panchayats, an extension of tenure of a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing by a year and Rs 88,000 crore of insurance cover for goods exporters.

    The central government has announced the support measures as states start lifting restrictions after new coronavirus infections showed a decline.

    Two annoucements made by Sitharaman regarding the additional subsidy of Rs 14,775 crore for DAP & P&K fertilizers, and extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) – free food grains from May to November 2021, were previously approved by the Cabinet.

  • Ensure strict containment in districts with COVID positivity rate above 10%: Centre to states

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has written to 14 states and union territories, including Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, West Bengal and Kerala, asking them to ensure strict enforcement of containment measures in the districts where the COVID-19 positivity rate was recorded above 10 per cent between June 21-27.

    With the recent trend of sustained decline in COVID-19 cases across the country, it is imperative to maintain a strict watch on the situation with focussed district level and sub-district level action, the Union Health Ministry said in the letter.

    “Therefore, the flexibilities being allowed and activities being permitted across the state must be done in a calibrated and cautious manner,” the letter by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on June 29 said. The letter was written to Rajasthan, Manipur, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal, Puducherry, Odisha, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Assam.

    To facilitate objective, transparent and epidemiologically sound decision-making, a broad-based framework based on test positivity rate and bed occupancy rate was provided to the states vide the Health Ministry’s letter on April 25, 2021, Bhushan said, adding this framework was also emphasized by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order dated April 29 for enforcement by all states.

    Again, the health ministry through its letter on June 28 has underlined the implementation of graded restriction/relaxation measures and continued focus on five-fold strategy of Test, Track, Treat, Covid Appropriate Behaviour and Vaccination.

    “You are, therefore, requested to kindly ensure strict enforcement of aforesaid interventions to control transmission and bring down the positivity rate in these districts. Elements of the district action plan viz, mapping of cases, reviewing ward and block-wise indicators, focusing on effective surveillance and quick hospitalization/isolation of positive cases, round the clock Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Command System and strict compliance of SOPs in containment zone strategy should also be comprehensively and strictly implemented,” Bhushan said in the letter.

    Some of the districts which observed a positivity rate of more than 10 per cent in the June 21-27 week are Bharatpur, Rajsamand, Baran, Chittorgarh, Sikar, Dholpur in Rajasthan; Imphal West and Tengnoupal in Manipur; East district, West District and South district in Sikkim; Unakoti and Dhalai in Tripura; Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal; Mahe district in Puducherry; Bhadrak, Bhaleshwar in Odisha; Palakkad, Malappuram, Kollam, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala; and Marigaon and Nalbari in Assam.

  • COVID-19: Centre stresses on graded lifting of curbs, continued focus on containment

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has told states it is critical that the lifting of restrictions and providing relaxations are carefully calibrated with continued focus on containment efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus infection.

    In a letter to states and union territories on June 28, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that in order to bring uniformity, the need for following the existing framework for either imposition of restrictions or allowing relaxations based on the burden of disease and strain on healthcare infrastructure still remain important.

    Bhushan shared a list of targeted actions that need to be implemented by the states which include monitoring of cases with districts as administrative units on a regular basis and taking necessary action for containment and health infrastructure upgradation.

    He said case positivity calculated based on total positive cases vis-a-vis samples tested during the week is one of the prime indicators of the spread of infection in a district. Higher case positivity would imply the need for stringent containment and restrictions so as to control the spread of infection.

    Similarly, he said each district needs to analyse bed occupancy vis-a-vis the available health infrastructure to ensure that it doesn’t get overwhelmed and seamless patient admission and follow-up can be done.

    Higher bed occupancy is an indicator that the district needs to undertake specific measures to upgrade the available beds while focusing on containment activities equally vigorously.

    It is important to emphasize that a lead time is required to upgrade health infrastructure (a month or more) and hence districts need to plan such upgrades after having duly analysed the case trajectory on a regular basis, he stated.

    For prioritizing districts which need intensive follow-up, states and UTs may identify districts which require the highest level of restrictions while the remaining districts may be allowed higher degree of relaxations based on lower weekly case positivity or a relatively low bed occupancy rates.

    District with high weekly case positivity or a high bed occupancy would need intensive monitoring, and thus the health ministry asked the states to consider appointing a senior officer from the state headquarter as the nodal officer for these districts.

    The District Nodal Officer will work in coordination with District Collector /Municipal Commissioner to identify cluster of new cases and ensure implementation of required containment activities, the letter stated.

    Restrictions once imposed will remain in force for a minimum period of 14 days while in the remaining areas of the district not under containment action, clearly relaxations/restrictions may be provided.

    As a monitoring mechanism, the state government may consider monitoring the status of classification parameters on a weekly basis and ensure their wide publicity so as to inform community at large and obtain their support in management of COVID-19 while restrictions are imposed or relaxations are allowed.

    While positivity rate and bed occupancy rate are vital criteria that need to be monitored for selection of high focus districts requiring intensive public health action, states and UTs shall also regularly monitor districts with higher numbers of active cases per million population as it is an important indicator to predict need for upgrading health infrastructure and logistics so as to manage the cases.

    Stating that COVID-19 is an ongoing challenge, the healh secretary asked the states and UTs to continue working on five pillars of its management: “Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to COVID-Appropriate Behaviour.”

    Early identification of cases is important for curbing the spread, and for this adequate testing is crucial. RT-PCR machines and sufficient kits to ensure required level of testing should accordingly be maintained in all districts, the secretary said in the letter.

    In addition to following clinical management protocol, the states should focus on upgradation of health infrastructure, timely commissioning of PSA oxygen plants in hospitals, adequate planning for availability of medical oxygen, availability of logistics, maintaining buffer stock of drugs and taking up necessary action for creation /redesigning of appropriate Covid-dedicated healthcare infrastructure, especially in peri-urban, rural, and tribal areas.

    He also underlined the need for upskilling/reskilling of human resources on the latest clinical management protocol and stressed that an effective planning for vaccination focusing on prompt coverage of priority groups and hubs of economic activity should be prioritized. “COVID-19 management can succeed only through a whole of government, whole of society approach,” Bhushan said.

    “Community engagement is critical and adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior is crucial to guard against any surge infection. This involves diligent use of masks/face covers, following physic distancing (2 gaj ki doori) and practising respiratory and hand hygiene,” he said.

    This normative advisory will aid the states and UTs to clearly define their policies and streamline their approaches for implementing graded restrictions/calibrated relaxation for management of COVID-19, he said.

  • Centre seeks report from West Bengal government on fake COVID-19 vaccination camps

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry has asked the West Bengal government to inquire into instances of COVID-19 vaccination camps being organised allegedly by unauthorised people in some areas of Kolkata and submit a report in the next two days.

    Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to Hari Krishna Dwivedi, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, seeking a factual report on the matter.

    Bhushan referred to a letter written to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, on June 25 in which attention has been drawn to the instances of COVID-19 vaccination camps being organised allegedly by unauthorised people.

    It is also pointed out that in some of these camps, and notably in Kasba locality of Kolkata Municipal area, none of the beneficiaries have received any vaccination certificates generated from Co-WIN, giving rise to apprehensions about the genuineness of these vaccination camps, Bhushan said in his letter.

    He said as per the guidelines, all vaccination sessions for COVID-19 have to be organised through the Co-WIN portal and all vaccinations too have to be recorded on Co-WIN.

    Also vaccination certificates are generated from Co-WIN after the vaccination events are successfully recorded by the vaccinators and that, these certificates are then given to the beneficiaries in digital or physical form, he said in the letter.

    The Centre has also advised states from time to time that vaccination certificates must be issued to beneficiaries. “Non-issuance of these certificates therefore does lead to apprehension of ‘fake’ vaccination camps and also raises doubts on contents of injections delivered in such camps. Such instances, if not promptly enquired into and suitably addressed, may also lead to the possibility of their recurrence,” Bhushan said.

    “It is requested that the matter may be urgently enquired into and the factual position about the serious allegations raised in the letter referred to above, clarified immediately and that, suitable and strict action may be taken in the matter, if necessary. It is also requested that a factual report on the matter may be sent to this ministry in the next two days,” he said.

  • Candidates can opt out of CA exams if they or their kin suffer from COVID-19: Supreme Court

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Observing that the scheme provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is not enough, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted candidates scheduled to appear for the upcoming CA exams to opt out if they or their family members have suffered from COVID-19.

    A three-judge bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Aniruddha Bose also made it clear that a candidate need not produce RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test if medical certificate issued by registered medical practitioners for his family members is produced along with request for opting out.

    “A candidate who has suffered COVID-19 personally or any of his family members, so certified by a registered medical practitioner, as a result of which he is unable to appear for exam, or disabled from preparing for the exam, is entitled to exercise the option of opting out. It will not be considered as an attempt. Such candidate will be permitted to appear for the next examination for both old and new syllabus,” the bench said.

    With regard to candidates affected by lockdown during the relevant period of exam, the apex court said as per ICAI scheme, such candidate will be allowed to opt-out and will not be treated as an attempt and such candidate will be allowed to appear in the next examination.

    “As regards the logistical arrangements, both infrastructural and human resources-wise, the ICAI shall ensure that there is strict adherence to the SOP notified by the competent authority, including the Disaster Management Authority,” the court said.

    It is also clarified if any candidate who is attempting exam gets COVID-19 during exam, he will be allowed to opt out and it will not be treated as an attempt. “They can give the exam in the next year. He may be permitted to appear in backup exams as per the rules,”the bench said.

    The top court also said that in case of last minute change of examination centres, it disapproves the suggestion of ICAI that if it’s in the same city, the candidate will not be allowed to opt out. “We direct that candidate should be allowed to opt out and it will not be treated us an attempt. Such candidate can appear in backup when situation is conducive,” it said.

    Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, who was appearing for one of the petitioners, said that some serious issues have not been addressed in the note filed by the ICAI and it is not in line with what the apex court had observed.

    Arora referred to the issue of RT-PCR report and said candidates, who have to travel to different places to appear in the exam, may have suffered from COVID-19 earlier but he or she has not recovered fully. The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking different reliefs including an opt-out option for the candidates, postponement of the exam, and increase in number of centres this year.

    During the earlier hearing conducted through video-conferencing, the bench observed there are instances where the RT-PCR test may be negative but the person shows symptoms of COVID. The ICAI has recently said that opt-out option will be provided in case the examinee himself or herself or his family members (residing in the same premises) are infected with COVID-19.

    The bench had said that RT-PCR report should not be the parameter and there has to be a competent authority having medical experience which can issue certificate to the candidates looking at COVID or COVID related issues.

    ICAI had on Monday told the apex court that it is the most conducive time to hold CA exams as COVID-19 spread is now at a substantially low level, offering an opportune moment for chartered accountants to further their professional career.

    It had said that the present COVID situation in the country is similar to when this court had allowed ICAI to hold examinations in November, 2020 and there is no reason to believe that it will not take adequate precautions.