News Analysis India

Tag: COVID19

  • Former union minister and RLD chief Ajit Singh dies of COVID-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI:  Former Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh passed away at a Gurgaon hospital on Thursday morning battling COVID-19, his family said. He was 82.

    The family said in a statement that Singh, the son of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on April 20. “Chaudhary Ajit Singh ji was diagnosed as COVID+ on the 20th April. He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning, the 6th of May, 2021,” his son Jayant Chowdhury tweeted.

    pic.twitter.com/xIxgNh839Q
    — Jayant Chaudhary (@jayantrld) May 6, 2021

    “Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare,” he said.

    “As our Nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible. We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us,” he said.

    “We pray for solace for all those families that have been ravaged by this brutal disease,” the message posted by Jayant on behalf of the family said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and others have condoled the death of the leader.

    Expressing grief at the Singh’s death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday he was always dedicated to the welfare of farmers. Modi said that he deftly handled many responsibilities at the Centre. The prime minister extended his condolences to Singh’s family and admirers.

    Condoling Singh’s demise, BJP president JP Nadda said he always served people during his long career in politics. Singh, son of former prime minister Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on April 20.

  • India reports highest-ever single-day spike with 4,12,262 fresh COVID-19 cases, 3,980 deaths

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reported 4,12,262 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. With this, the cumulative count of COVID-19 cases in the country has gone up to 2,10,77,410, informed the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.

    As many as 3,980 patients succumbed to the infection during the last 24 hours, taking the total COVID-related death toll to 2,30,168. India registered a total of 3,29,113 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The total number of recoveries in the country now stands at 1,72,80,844.

    At present, India has 35,66,398 active coronavirus cases. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 29,67,75,209 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to May 5. Of these 19,23,131 samples were tested on Wednesday.

    The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered stands at 16,25,13,339, according to the Union Health Ministry. India is currently dealing with a devastating second COVID-19 wave that has swept through the nation, straining the country’s health infrastructure and overburdening frontline medical workers.

    Lockdown-like situation already in many states

    Maharashtra: Lockdown-like curbs imposed since April 5

    Odisha: Two-week lockdown since May 5

    Andhra Pradesh: Two-week noon-to-6 am curfew starting May 5

    Kerala: Mini-lockdown till May 9, night curfew

    Telangana: Only night curfew so far

    Tamil Nadu: Shops selling essential commodities can function till 12 noon

    Karnataka: Corona Curfew extended till May 12

    West Bengal: Shops to open from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm

    Jharkhand: Lockdown since April 22

    Madhya Pradesh: Staggered Janta Curfew in various districts

    Uttar Pradesh: Corona Curfew till May 10 morning

    Bihar: 11-day lockdown starting Wednesday

    Punjab: Non-essential shops shut till May 15

    Haryana: Lockdown from May 3-10

    Rajasthan: Virtual lockdown from April 19 to May 3

    Chhattisgarh: Lockdown extended till May 15

    Jammu & Kashmir: Corona curfew in 14 districts till Thursday morning; four districts under curfew till May 10

    North-East: Almost all states have clamped night curfew; complete lockdown in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district

  • Infection in Covid+ve lions at Hyderabad Zoo not caused by any variant of concern: Centre

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Analysis of samples of the eight lions that tested positive for Covid-19 at the Hyderabad Zoo has revealed that the infection was not caused by any variant of concern, the union ministry of environment and forests said.

    The ministry said that the Nehru Zoological  Park (NZP), Hyderabad shared samples (as collected from the nose, throat and respiratory tract under anaesthesia) with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology – Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (CCMB-LaCONES) for eight Asiatic lions housed in the Zoo that had shown signs of respiratory distress.  

    “Based on detailed diagnostic tests and report as shared by CCMB-LaCONES on 4th May 2021, it has now been confirmed that eight Asiatic lions housed in Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), Hyderabad have tested positive for SARS-CoV2 virus,” it said.

    The ministry said that the eight lions have been isolated and due care and necessary treatment has been provided. 

    “All the eight lions have responded well to treatment and are recovering. They are behaving normally and eating well. Preventive measures are already in place for all zoo staff and the zoo has been closed to visitors to avoid minimal external contact,” said the ministry.

    The Central Zoo Authority has taken several pre-emptive measures including the issuance of guidelines and advisories to the zoos towards precautions to be undertaken by zoos in the light of the increasing number of cases of SARS CoV-2.

    The monitoring and guidelines for prevention, sample collection, detection in suspected cases, and safety protocols for animal keepers etc have been suggested to zoos in consultation with scientific agencies and experts Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) Uttar Pradesh and CCMB-LaCONES, Hyderabad. 

    As part of the next steps, new guidelines for COVID precautions are being further developed in consultation with experts.

    “Based on experience with zoo animals elsewhere in the world that have experienced SARS-COV2 positive last year, there is no factual evidence that animals can transmit the disease to humans,” it added. 

  • Badly hit by COVID crisis, black-marketing of medical oxygen runs rampant in Bihar

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Despite all the claims of the Bihar government, the black marketing of medical oxygen continues in the state on a large scale. Barring a few big government hospitals, almost all private and district-level government hospitals are reportedly facing shortage of medical oxygen.

    As a result of it, fatality rate among the COVID-19 positive patients admitted in hospitals has increased to an alarming extent. Sources from medical fraternity said that nearly 50 to 55 per cent of corona patients, admitted in private and government hospitals, die everyday for want of oxygen out of total deaths reported in the state.

    30-year-old Rohan Kumar said: “When I did not get an oxygen cylinder a couple of days ago, I purchased two new oxygen cylinders of 10 litres each at Rs 15000 for my corona patient father, from black market.”

    He is not alone, who had to pay a huge money for procuring two oxygen cylinders from black market. If sources are to be believed, black marketing of oxygen cylinders now has become the second most lucrative activity for making fast bucks after the smuggling of liquor in Bihar.

    One cylinder of 14 litres of oxygen is sold at Rs 20000 to Rs 25000 in the black market. Gaurav Rai, who is known as oxygen man of Bihar because of his service of providing free oxygen cylinders, said that all mechanisms to check the black marketing of cylinders have failed in the state.

    “What to speak of shortages of cylinders of oxygen only, even a pipe and the flow metres of oxygen cylinders are also out of the markets but sold at an exorbitant prices Rs 250 to Rs 350 in black market,” he said.

    In Patna, which has highest number of 17224 active positive cases, 98 per cent of private hospitals, barring government AIIMS, PMCH, IGIMS and NMCH, are running short of oxygen cylinders. As health minister Mangal Pandey claimed, the central government has already increased the quota of oxygen from 194 MT tonnes to 214 MT tonnes for Bihar.

    He also claimed with media that oxygen is being generated by 19 plants in the state for medical urgency. Taking serious note of shortage of oxygen, Leader of opposition Tejashwi Tadav on Monday accused the Nitish Kumar-led government of being failed to sort out the acute shortage of oxygen.

    “Please don’t play with the health of a Bihari for the sake of chair, Nitish Kumarji. Why are you not demanding oxygen allocation from the centre government in the ratio of caseload? Have you made a caseload projection for the month of May and sent it to the centre?” Tejashwi Yadav asked.

    A number of medical practitioners of Patna, wishing not to be quoted, said that if shortage of oxygen prolongs just few one week in Bihar, fatality rate will crossed over to 50 per cent of reported cases for want of oxygen.

    Team formed to raid on illegal hoarding of oxygen cylinders and medicines

    The Economic Offences Unit (EOU), following the direction of CM Nitish Kumar and DGP SK Singhal, has constituted two teams for the state-level verification and legal action against the hoarding of oxygen cylinders and its black-marketing.

    In the last few days, stepping up actions against illegal hoarding of oxygen cylinders and its black-marketing, the EOU teams had recovered more than 63 cylinders of oxygen in Patna alone. So far, many persons have been arrested including a shopkeeper on Monday in Patna with seven oxygen cylinders on charge of illegal hoarding of oxygen cylinders.

    Addl DGP (EOU) Nayyar Hasnain Khan said that teams have started taking actions against illegal hoarding of oxygen cylinders. “The EOU teams are working under leadership of a DSP-rank officer to checkon  illegal activities like hoarding oxygen and medicines,” he said.

  • Tribal woman from Ranchi provides free meals to families suffering from COVID-19

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: Nisha Bhagat is a tribal woman who runs a café in Ranchi. Lately she has turned her business into a service for the families suffering from COVID-19. She provides free breakfast, lunch and dinner to these households. The thrice-a-day food supply reaches around 45 people.

    It began around a fortnight ago when a woman caller asking for home delivery asked for ‘khichhadi’. “She was ready to pay whatever…I was a bit surprised because people generally don’t order that simple food over the phone,” recalls Nisha.

    “Then the caller told me the sad part; everyone in that family had turned COVID positive and none of them was physically fit enough to cook food. I took the order and sent it out. That set me thinking why not provide free food to such families,” says Nisha.

    She posted a message on social media about the free food availability for COVID patients. Soon, she started getting calls for help. Nisha is supported by Chandrasheker and Vinita Sahu. They have to get up at 5 am every day.

    “Since the food goes to the ailing people, I take extra care of nutrition and cleanliness. In breakfast, we cook things poha, idli, upma along with a boiled egg, while in lunch we make rice, roti, green vegetables and salad. In dinner, one vegetable and chapatis are given,” says Nisha.

    The food packets are home-delivered to infected families. Many people have come forward to help her with money in her free enterprise. “More than anything else, it is the blessings of the people who get what I serve them. It gives me immense satisfaction and inner strength to continue with my work,” says Nisha.

  • COVID-19 vaccination drive begins for citizens of 18-44 age group

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The COVID-19 vaccination drive for people in the age group of 18- 44 began on Saturday at select centres in a few cities, with limited access amid a huge  crisis of vaccines in the country.

    Beginning this month, those between 18 and 44 are entitled to jabs against COVID-19, in addition to the priority populations, who had become eligible for the shots from earlier. States like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have announced Phase-III of the COVID-19 inoculation drive at limited centres.

    In the national capital, vaccination for this group was carried out only at one centre and the Aam Admi Party government said that the drive will be expanded for this age group from Monday. Delhi has received 4.5 lakh vaccine doses, which is being distributed in all districts, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. 

    From Saturday on the CoWin portal, the types of vaccines and their prices have neem displayed, for locations where vaccination has opened for the 18-44 age group. This, the government said, will help citizens make an informed choice at the time of booking appointments at private facilities.

    The Centre also underscored that it has so far provided nearly 16.37 crore vaccine doses to states free of cost, of which, the total consumption including wastages is 15,58,48,782 doses till Saturday morning.

    The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also said that more than 79 lakh doses – 79,13,518 – are still available with the states to be administered, while a little over 17 lakh doses will be dispatched in addition within the next three days.

    This stock, supplied under the Central quota, can be used only to inoculate those above 45. For the younger lot, states and private hospitals can only use vaccines procured directly by them.

  • Bengal elections 2021: Rallies lead to sharp rise in COVID-19 cases

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: West Bengal is witnessing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases and fatalities, and many health experts held month-long political extravaganzas responsible for the spread of the coronavirus in urban as well as rural regions of the state.

    The state registered its highest single-day spike of 17,411 COVID-19 cases and 96 deaths on. A week ago, 12,876 new coronavirus cases and 59 deaths were reported. Though the Centre announced a vaccination drive for all those 18 and above, the implementation on the ground in the state seems to be a task next to impossible.

    ALSO READ| Bengal’s Covid toll crosses 100-mark, two patients found dead at homes in Kolkata

    The chief minister announced the start of vaccinations for people in the age bracket from May 5, but an order issued by the state health department asks hospitals to give priority to those who are above 45 years old.

    The state government asked the Centre to provide 2 crore vaccine doses immediately but there was no response from the central government by Saturday evening.

    “Many people turned up at the state-run hospitals for vaccination but they had to return because of the shortage of vaccines. We have decided to allow the people with above 45 years on priority basis and secure the second dose of vaccine for these set of recipients,” said an official of the state government.

    The private hospitals are also running short of doses and they have stopped giving the first dose, focusing on giving second doses.Health experts found that no one other than political heavyweights are responsible for the steep spike in rural West Bengal. 

    “The first election day was March 27 and the state registered a single-day spike of only 812 cases and death of two persons. Now you see the figure has gone up to where,” said an official of the state’s health department.

    Districts in the state are registering five to eight times fresh COVID-19 cases per day comparing to the figure in October 2020 when the infection rate was at its peak.

    In the first wave of COVID-19, we managed to save rural regions of the state but this time the situation is alarming. This is simply because of rallies, roadshows and other political events,” said an official of the state’s health department.

  • Jharkhand directs hospitals to reserve 70 per cent beds for COVID-19 patients

    By Express News Service
    RANCHI: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Jharkhand, the state government has directed all government and private hospitals to keep 70 per cent of beds reserved for COVID-19 patients. Hospitals have also been asked to prepare isolation wards for COVID patients with mild symptoms so that they can be put to oxygen beds later in case if their oxygen saturation level dips.

    The number of active cases in the state has gone up from 35,826 on April 21 to 57,716 on May 1. “Looking at the increasing number of COVID-19 deaths and active cases, it is essential that the number of beds available for the infected patients must be increased. Therefore, it is obligatory for the hospitals engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients to keep 70 percent of the total available beds reserved for Covid patients,” stated the directive.  

    “The hospitals must also prepare separate isolation wards for the COVID patients who have mild symptoms, but normal oxygen saturation level, so that they may be put to oxygen beds on priority if required,” the order says. 

    All deputy collectors have been asked to hold a meeting with the representatives of the government and private hospitals to ensure that the government directive is fully implemented.

    As of now, Jharkhand has 3,829 beds available for COVID-19 patients in 44 hospitals across the state. Another 900 beds may be added in the coming week. Meanwhile, facing delay in vaccine supplies, the state could not launch the inoculation drive for the people in the age group of 18-44 years on Saturday. 

  • COVID-19: Indian Navy deploys seven warships to bring liquid oxygen from abroad

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has surged its operational commitments towards the country’s fight against the COVID pandemic. While seven Indian Navy Ships were deployed by Saturday for Operation Samudra Setu II more are being prepared to join soon.

    Giving details of deployment Commander Vivek Madhwal said, “In support of the nation’s fight against Covid-19 and as part of operation ‘Samudra Setu II’, seven Indian Naval ships viz. Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa, and Airavat have been deployed for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries.”

    Also, the Navy has kept enough room to add to the operations as per the future needs said Madhwal. “Indian Navy also has the surge capability, to deploy more ships when the need arises to further nation’s fight against COVID-19,” he said.

    From the Southern Naval Command, the Landing Ship Tank INS Shardul is being readied to join the Operation within 48 hours, added the Navy. Similarly, on the Eastern seaboard, INS Airavat too has been diverted for the task, while INS Jalashwa, the LPD which played a key role during op Samudra Setu last year was pulled out of maintenance, readied, and sailed out to augment the effort.

    INS Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, and Trikand are part of the Western Naval Command. INS Kolkata and INS Talwar, mission deployed in the Persian Gulf, were the first batch of ships that were immediately diverted for the task and entered the port of Manama, Bahrain on 30 April 2021.

    As for the details of the task, INS Talwar, with 40 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), is headed back home. INS Kolkata has proceeded to Doha, Qatar for embarking on medical supplies and will subsequently head to Kuwait for embarking on Liquid Oxygen tanks.

    INS Airavat is scheduled to enter Singapore for embarking on Liquid oxygen tanks and INS Jalashwa is standing by in the region to embark on medical stores at short notice. The second batch of ships comprising Kochi, Trikand, and Tabar mission deployed in the Arabian sea has also been diverted to join the national effort.

    But, the diversion of such a large number of mission deployed ships has not taken place at the cost of operational preparedness. 

    Commander Madhwal said, “Indian Naval ships continue to maintain the combat readiness and operational deployment. the flexibility and capability of a role change of a ‘mission deployed’ ship enables Indian Navy to react to any situation which is being built up and therefore is able to rapidly re-deploy to meet any contingencies such as the present requirement.”

    Indian Air Force has committed its 50 aircraft and 20 helicopters for the same task.

    It may be recalled that Operation Samudra Setu was launched last year by the Navy and around 4000 Indian citizens stranded in neighboring countries, amidst COVID 19 outbreak, were successfully repatriated back to India. 

  • More kids below 10 years get infected with COVID-19 in Maharashtra

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government’s health department data has revealed that more and more children are getting infected with the COVID virus in the second wave. There is a 51 per cent rise in infection among children within a period of a month in the state.

    As many as 1,34,470 children as young as 10 years have been infected against 88,827 on April 3. More than 75,387 children were infected within 25 days in the state, which is almost a 51 per cent rise in positive cases among children.

    According to the health department data, 3.04 per cent of children up to 10 years old were infected while the percentage was 6.80 among those between the 11-20 age group. The percentage of infection among the 21-30 age category was 17.51.

    The highest infection was in the age group of 31-40 years – 22.09 per cent. In the senior citizen group between 61 and above, the positivity percentage was found at 17.15 per cent. The data also reveals that after children, the young population between the 21-60 age group are more infected – around 72.6 per cent in Maharashtra.

    More men are getting the virus than women with percentages at 60 and 40 respectively. The total number of deaths in Maharashtra is 67,214 against 2.048 lakh in India. Maharashtra’s mortality rate is 1.50 per cent against the country’s 1.11 per cent.

    WATCH:

    Across the country, Maharashtra stands fourth in mortality among COVID positive patients. The Punjab mortality rate is the highest i.e. 2.45 per cent, followed by 1.89 per cent in Sikkim, and 1.51 per cent in Himachal Pradesh.

    DOESN’T SPARE YOUTH IN STATE

    According to the health department data, 3.04 per cent of children up to 10 years old were infected while the percentage was 6.80 among those between the 11-20 age group.