News Analysis India

Tag: COVID19

  • Decide on plea for priority in COVID vaccination to NRIs, students going abroad: Delhi HC to Centre

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the central government to decide “as early as possible” a representation by an NGO for priority in COVID vaccination to NRIs and students who have to go abroad for studies.

    A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh said the representation of May 20 by NGO Pravasi Legal Cell be decided in accordance with the law, rules, regulations and government policy applicable to the case.

    With the direction, the court disposed of the PIL. The NGO had moved the court as it received no response to its representation. The NGO, represented by advocate Jose Abraham, had also sought inclusion of passport numbers in the vaccination certificates of those intending to travel abroad.

    Pravasi Legal Cell, in its plea filed through advocates MP Srivignesh, Robin Raju and Deepa Joseph, claimed that NRIs who came to India during the COVID-19 outbreak globally have to now return to their respective countries where they reside or work in view of decline in infections in many countries and resumption of international flights.

    The petition said that foreign nations only allow entry to those persons who are vaccinated and if preference is not given to such individuals, it would badly affect them.

    It also said that the US and European countries are only permitting entry to those students who have been vaccinated and therefore, it was important to give priority to such persons as the academic year in the US, the UK and other European nations commences from August-September.

    It had further said that most foreign countries accept the vaccination certificate only when they have the passport number on it. “So, a vaccination certificate carrying the Aadhaar number in place of the passport number cannot be produced as a valid document with the latest rules in many countries,” it had added.

    It had also claimed that people who have received both doses of Covaxin are also not allowed to travel internationally as the vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, has not been included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) yet.

    “So, it is humbly submitted that the respondent (Centre) must take appropriate steps in this regard so no difficulty is faced by the people travelling abroad even after being fully vaccinated by doses of Covaxin,” it had said.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Two arrested for dumping COVID patient’s body in river

    By ANI
    BALRAMPUR (UTTAR PRADESH): Two people have been arrested after a video went viral on social media showing a COVID-19 patient’s body being dumped from a bridge into the Rapti river in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district.

    In a video statement on Twitter, the Balrampur Police informed that the patient, identified as Prem Nath Mishra, had been admitted to a hospital on May 25 and tested positive for the coronavirus. He died on May 29 and the body was handed to his nephew while following COVID-19 protocol.

    “On May 29, a video went viral on social media that showed PPE-clad persons dropping a corpse into the Rapti river. As per the Chief Medical Officer, Balrampur, the body has been identified as Prem Nath Mishra, who was admitted to a hospital on May 25,” the Additional Superintendent of Police said on Sunday.

    “After he tested positive for COVID-19, he was shifted to another ward on May 26. He died on May 28. The body was handed over to his nephew on May 29 as per COVID-19 guidelines. A case has been registered and two people have been arrested,” he added.

    Confirming the same, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Balrampur said yesterday, “The COVID patient’s whose body was thrown into the river, was handed over to family under protocol. A case has been registered and a probe on.” Several reports have surfaced over the last few weeks of decomposed bodies floating in rivers.

    In Ghazipur, several bodies washed up on the shores of river Ganga. Similar scenes were also witnessed in Bihar’s Buxar. Bodies have also been found buried in the sand in Unnao. Locals describe the bodies as bloated and decomposed and many fear that the corpses are those of COVID-19 patients.

    As per the union health minister, there are currently 41,214 active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh. As many as 16,28,456 recoveries and 20,346 deaths have been reported in the state so far. (ANI)

  • Elgar Parishad case: Activist Stan Swamy tests positive for coronavirus

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Jesuit priest and activist Stan Swamy, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has tested positive for coronavirus.

    Swamy (84), who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease and several other ailments, was shifted from the Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai to the Holy Family Hospital here on May 28, following the Bombay High Court’s orders.

    His lawyer Mihir Desai said that Swamy was tested at the private hospital and his result came out positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. Desai alleged that this was a result of “criminal negligence” on part of the Taloja prison authorities, who failed to provide adequate care to the inmates and conduct their RT-PCR tests timely.

    On May 28, a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NR Borkar directed the state prison authorities to ensure Swamy was shifted from the Taloja prison to the hospital, after Desai moved the bench seeking an urgent hearing.

    Swamy had been in the Taloja prison hospital since his arrest in the case in October 2020. Desai had earlier moved a vacation bench led by Justice SJ Kathawala, seeking medical aid and bail for Swamy on health grounds.

    At that time, the bench said while the issue of medical bail would be decided later, Swamy could be shifted to the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai for treatment. Swamy, who was then present before the court via video-conferencing, refused to get admitted to the JJ Hospital, saying he had been there twice earlier already but found no relief.

    He had said that he would rather die in prison than go to the JJ Hospital. Swamy had told the HC that his mental and physical health declined steadily while at the Taloja prison. He had urged the HC for interim bail.

    Advocate Desai had told the bench that considering his ill health and co-morbidities, Swamy was at the risk of contracting the coronavirus infection. Swamy had said he was also worried about his co-inmates at the hospital.

    On both the hearings, the NIA’s counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, and the state’s counsel, YP Yagnik, objected to advocate Desai’s request. They had said the state could not be expected to bear the cost of Swamy’s treatment at the private hospital and suggested he may be shifted to the JJ Hospital.

    The bench led by Justice Shinde, however, permitted Swamy to be shifted to the Holy Family Hospital after Desai said the cost of treatment would be borne by Swamy and his aides.

    The Elgar Parishad case is related to inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.

    The police have also claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe into the case.

  • Lowest weekly cases, positivity rate: Second COVID wave shows signs of slowdown in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: An analysis of the COVID-19 data in Uttarakhand between May 23 and 29 has indicated that the second wave may be slowing down. The hilly state this week registered a total of 16,643 infections, the lowest weekly cases in the previous six weeks, data analysed by Social Development for Communities Foundation has found.

    This is one-third of the cases recorded in the two weeks preceding it, it said. 

    At 6.44 per cent, the state also recorded the lowest test positivity rate (TPR) in the last six weeks, which is also one-fourth of the test positivity rate recorded during the second wave peak between May 9 and 22, the analysis stated. 

    It also found that the total active cases were at the lowest in the last six weeks at 31,110.

    Besides, the 626 COVID-related fatalities recorded between May 23 and 29 was also the lowest in the last five weeks. Uttarakhand also conducted 2,58,601 tests, the highest in the last four weeks and over 40,000 recoveries for the second straight week, the data analysis said.

    Experts said it would be “immature” to fritter away these hard-earned gains by lowering the guard and not abiding by Covid-appropriate behaviour.  “We appeal to the government of Uttarakhand, all authorities and the people of our state to continue to focus on the basics. We might be on the right track but there are many challenges that lie ahead,” Anoop Nautiyal of SDCF said. 

    The foundation has been collating and analysing data since March 15 last year, when the first Covid case in the state had surfaced. Currently, Uttarakhand has a total of 30,357 active cases with 1,226 new cases recorded on Sunday, the lowest single-day infections in the last 50 days.

  • Bihar government announces solatium for kids orphaned due to COVID-19

    Express News Service
    PATNA: A day after the Centre announced a slew of measures to help children orphaned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday also made a similar announcement for such kids. 

    Taking to his social media accounts, Kumar said his government would provide monthly stipends for the bereaved children, a boarding facility for those left with no caretaker, and give special impetus to the education of orphaned girls.

    “Boys and girls who have lost their mothers and fathers – with at least one parent succumbing to COVID – will get a sum of Rs 1,500 every month from the state government till they attain the age of 18 years,” Kumar said.

    He said the aid will be provided under his government’s ‘Baal Sahaayta Yojana’, meant for needy children.

    The CM further stated that “boys and girls who are left with no guardian to bring them up will be provided shelter at Baal Griha. Priority will be accorded to get such orphaned girls admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya schools”.    

    वैसे बच्चे-बच्चियों जिनके माता पिता दोनो की मृत्यु हो गई, जिनमें कम से कम एक की मृत्यु कोरोना से हुई हो, उनको ‘बाल सहायता योजना’ अंतर्गत राज्य सरकार द्वारा 18 वर्ष होने तक 1500 रू0 प्रतिमाह दिया जाएगा। (1/2)
    — Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) May 30, 2021

    According to the state social welfare department, a total number of 1,534 children in Bihar have been found affected during the ongoing second wave of the pandemic following the death of their one or both parents due to the virus.

    Among all them, 48 children have been found orphaned after the death of their both parents. Former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said 100 donors have also come forward under the Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti to provide Rs 1,000 in the account of each orphaned children per month.

    Speaker of Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha said all MLAs should step forward and play the role of guardians of these children.

  • Two men caught on tape throwing COVID patient’s body into river in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: After disturbing visuals of unidentified bodies floating in the Ganga river, a video went viral in which two men are seen dumping the body of a Covid patient into the Rapti river in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district.

    The 26-second clip, which appears to be filmed by a person from a vehicle, shows the two men, one of them wearing PPE suit, amid rain throwing the body from a road bridge.

    While the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) confirmed the patient had tested positive, the police announced that two persons, including a close relative of the COVID victim and a sanitation staff, was arrested for the act that took place on Saturday. “A criminal case was lodged against them and further investigations are underway,” ASP, Balrampur, Arvind Mishra said.

    ये ‘कूड़ा’ नही, नदी में लाश फेंकी जा रही है,तस्वीरें ‘उत्तम-प्रदेश’ के बलरामपुर की है…pic.twitter.com/xiJPsYKB30
    — Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 30, 2021

    According to Balrampur CMO Dr VB Singh, a 68-year-old man from Shohratgarh area was admitted at a hospital in Balrampur district on May 25, where he tested Covid positive the next day. He was shifted to an isolation ward at the Jila Sanyukt Chikitsalaya but died on May 28 evening.

    The body was handed over to the patient’s nephew Sanjay Shukla and sent in a vehicle for cremation the next morning.

    But, the police said, instead of getting the body cremated at the Bijlipur Ghat, Shukla took the body and got it thrown in the river with the help of the sanitation staff and another man who works at the riverside cremation ground.

    Shukla allegedly oversaw the operation from an SUV, and the police are looking into the possibility of money being exchanged for getting the work done. Also under scanner is the role of those who filmed the clip.

    The opposition Congress tweeting the video on Sunday and asserted that the awful state of affairs in UP was exposed yet again. “Will the UP government now prove this video as false,” it questioned.

    Disturbing visuals from Balrampur

    The 26-second clip, which appears to be filmed by a person from a vehicle, shows the two men, one of them wearing PPE suit, throwing the body from a road bridge

  • We are at first wave’s peak, most curbs to stay: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on COVID situation

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is not over yet, and active cases are still close to the first wave’s peak, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Sunday while announcing the  current lockdown-like restrictions in the state would be extended by 15 days with some relaxations.

    Maharashtra reported 18,600 new cases on Sunday, its lowest one-day count since mid-March this year, even as its active cases stood at 2,71,801. Lapses during the first wave of the pandemic last year and a hurried decision of reopening everything cost us the lives of the many people during the second wave, Thackeray said. 

    “Every life is important. Therefore, people threatening to protest if the restrictions are not eased out should understand the gravity of the situation. It is true that the lockdown is not the solutions and business should operate but they cannot afford to do this at this moment,” Thackeray said.

    He added it is one of the toughest and bitter decisions to impose the restrictions over his own people. Thackeray said in districts that are reporting less than 10 per cent positivity rate, the authorities can extend the operation time, between 7 am and 2 pm, for essential shops and establishments.

    “After 2 pm, only essential services will be allowed to operate. The district authority will also take the call for reopening non-essential shops or malls. If any district positivity rate is more than 20 per cent, then that districts will have to seal its border,” he said.

    CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressing the state https://t.co/W0FQgkntug
    — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 30, 2021

    Haryana, Odisha and Telangana extend lockdown

    Meanwhile, Haryana, Odisha and Telangana were the latest among states and Union Territories to extend the COVID-induced lockdown, while Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday announced a partial easing of restrictions in districts with less active cases, though night curfew and weekend shutdown will remain.

    Many states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa, have extended the lockdown or restrictions for a week to a fortnight in June, while some of them like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have also announced a certain relaxation in the curbs due to a decline in new cases and positivity rate.

  • COVID: At current rate, Uttarakhand will take 18 months to vaccinate 70 per cent population

    DEHRADUN: At the current rate of vaccination, it will take another 16-18 months to cover about 70 per cent of the population of Uttarakhand, revealed analysis of data from the state health department. Seventy per cent means over 80 lakh.

    Anoop Nautiyal, whose Social Development for Communities has been collating and analysing data since the first Covid-19 case surfaced in the state on March 15 last year, said: “To vaccinate the population between the age group of 18-45, 1.32 crore doses are needed.’ Till May 27, a total of 35,36,840 vaccine doses to check Covid 18 have been administered.

    Of this, 21,72,760 have been given the first dose and 6,82,040 both the doses. At present, the estimated population of the state is 1.15 crore, out of which around 66 lakh are between 18 and 44. Uttarakhand has received a total of 29,98,400 doses till May 21.

    Out of this, 92,370 are Covaxin and 29,06030 are Covishield. Officials from the state health department said that vaccine doses for those above 45 are allocated by the Centre free of cost. Costs of doses for those above 18 are brone by the state government and private players, if they are willing to procure the doses.

    As far as the vaccine allocation trend is concerned, it has witnessed an upward growth from January 2021. In that month, the state received a total of 205500 doses of Covisheild allocated by the Centre followed by 4,26,660 in February, 6,28,540 in March, 8,97,150 in April and 7,59,550 in May.

    Uttarakhand received its first-ever lot of Covid-19 vaccines on January 13, with 1.13 lakh. This was followed by 92,500 on January 20, 1,40,160 on February 4, 1,93,500 on February 11, 93,000 on February 26, 2,24,010 on March 9, 2,03,790 on March 22, 2,00740 on March 31, 1,95,240 on April 2, 1,38,340 on April 11, 1,54,570 on April 14, 2,00,000 on April 16, 90,000 on April 17, 50,000 on April 21, 50,000 on April 23, 1,00,000 on April 27, 2,00,000 on May 3, 1,20,000 on May 4, 1,75,000 on May 8, 42,370 on May 12, 1,22,180 on May 18 and 1,00,000 on May 21. A total of 2,64,550 doses have been procured by the state government from domestic manufacturers.

    EXPECTING SUPPLY OF COVISHIELD

    The state government is also due to receive 1,41,130 doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India, Pune, any day, said state health department officials.

  • COVID-19: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in critical condition, on oxygen support

    By ANI
    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is on oxygen support and his condition is critical, informed Medanta Hospital, Lucknow on Saturday.

    “Condition of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is critical. He is on oxygen support,” said Medanta Hospital, Lucknow. Khan was shifted to Lucknow’s Medanta Hospital from Sitapur jail on May 9 where he is undergoing treatment for the coronavirus disease.

    His son Abdullah Khan was also shifted to the same hospital. The father-son duo had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 30. Azam Khan’s health suddenly deteriorated on May 9 following which he along with his son was sent to Lucknow by an ambulance.

    Khan has been lodged in Sitapur jail since February last year with more than a hundred cases registered against him. His son has also been lodged in Sitapur jail in several cases filed against him.

  • Five Gujarat cops booked for flouting COVID-19 norms at birthday bash

    By PTI
    BHUJ: A case has been registered against a police sub inspector and four constables in Kutch district of Gujarat for allegedly violating COVID-19 guidelines during a birthday party, officials said  on Saturday.The case was registered at Anjar police station on Friday night after a video of the incident that had occurred two weeks back, surfaced on social media platforms, they said.

    The four constables belong to the Local Crime Branch, while the sub inspector is posted in Surat, the officials said, adding that the constables have been suspended. The video showed them enjoying themselves at the birthday party at a farmhouse- cutting cakes and bursting firecrackers- by flouting COVID-19 norms.

    “A total of six persons, including five policemen, were booked under IPC sections 269 (unlawful and negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and also sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act,” an official of Anjar police station said.

    The FIR was registered on Friday night, and further action is being taken, he said. Kutch (East) SP Mayur Patil said that the four constables were suspended soon after the video came to light, and the investigation into the case was handed over to the Deputy Superintendent of Police.

    As per the details of the case, Deep Haribha, one of the accused, had thrown a surprise birthday party for his constable friend Babubhai Gareja at a farmhouse near Anjar on the night of May 14.

    Four other policemen were among around eight persons invited to the party where they also burst fire crackers at midnight. “They flouted social distancing norms and none of them was wearing a face mask,” the official said.